E/CN.4/1995/91
page 42
In addition, according to the information received, in schools
young Jehovah’s Witnesses are victims of manifestations of religious
intolerance (verbal insults, physical attacks), and it is alleged in
particular that the books used for religious instruction denigrate the
religion of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are also alleged to suffer arbitrary
arrest, harassment and ill-treatment by the police services, in
particular the security police. Moreover, these incidents are said to be
going hand in hand with a recrudescence of acts of vandalism and insults
directed not only against places of worship but also against Jehovah’s
Witnesses personally.
According to some information, the evangelical community has been
refused permission to continue broadcasting from its private religious
television station, "Hellas 62".
The Special Rapporteur was informed that two imams, invited by the
members of the Muslim Turkish minority during the month of Ramadan to
attend to their religious needs, were refused permission to enter Greece
by the Greek authorities at the border post of Ipsala, on
17 February 1994.
The Special Rapporteur was informed that the mosque of
Alexandroupolis was destroyed on 13 March 1993 following a fire. An
official investigation reportedly reached the conclusion that the imam of
the mosque had been negligent. According to certain information, the
investigation was biased and the police forced the witnesses to give
false evidence.
Furthermore, the Asagi Mahalle and Hurriyet Mahallesi mosques, in
Xanthi, and the Kirmahalle and Tabakhane mosques, in Komotini, are
alleged to have been subject to bombing attacks or arson.
The Tabakhane mosque in Xanthi was reportedly razed to the ground
by bulldozer by the municipality. A dervish’s sacred dwelling (dervish
Sodpe) dating from the fourteenth century is alleged to have been
demolished on the pretext of renovation. Despite the Government’s
promises to rebuild it, it is reported that no action has so far been
taken.
Furthermore, according to the information received on 6 April 1993,
the Greek legislators have voted a law making it compulsory for citizens
to declare their religion on their identity cards."
India
In a communication dated 5 September 1994, addressed to the Government of
India, the Special Rapporteur transmitted the following comments:
"According to the information received, relations between Hindus
and Muslims continue to be strained since the attack on and destruction