A/72/155 84. Fundamentalist and extremist groups often seek to block the mixing of people. For example, Sikh fundamentalist groups have reportedly used gangs of masked men to forcibly disrupt mixed marriages. 78 In India, the false claim that Muslim men engage in so-called “love jihad” has been used to cast intimacy and marriage of Hindu women and Muslim men as part of a conspiracy to convert Hindu women to Islam and produce Muslim progeny. 79 85. Those women perceived as lesbian remain targets of organized abuse, including by extreme nationalists, which deprives them of many human rights, including the right to take part in cultural life without discrimination (see A/HRC/29/23, para. 22; CRC/C/IRQ/CO/2-4, paras. 27-28). 80 86. Violence against people because of their sexual orientation highlights the transnational nature of fundamentalisms and extremisms. For example, Christian fundamentalist leaders and groups from the United States have reportedly supported an anti-gay and lesbian agenda abroad, including in Uganda, through speeches and funding. 81 87. Fundamentalists and extremists commonly seek to quash any positive expression and representation of sexual orientation -related themes and of sexual minorities. Legislation in at least 17 countries explicitly prohibits the “promotion” of sexual orientation. 82 Such repression stifles the sharing of information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cultural events. In some cases, such laws have emboldened fundamentalists to commit violence against participants in such events. Russian human rights defenders report that, since the adoption of the law banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among minors, “virtually any peaceful LGBT rights public action is accompanied by acts of violence committed by opponents without any proper response of police ”. 83 Diverse fundamentalists have acted to force the cancellation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cultural events, including fashion shows involving transgender women, equality festivals, pride events and days of remembrance, including in Malaysia and Ukraine. 84 The Special Rapporteur is pleased that the new Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity will be able to further investigate such issues. D. Right to education 88. Fundamentalists and extremists everywhere target education in different ways, in an effort to impose their world views. In some places, they carry out acid attacks on girl pupils. Elsewhere, they attempt to impose gender segregation in schools or __________________ 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 17-12043 Sukhwant Dhaliwal, “Resurgent Sikh fundamentalism in the UK: time to act? ”, Open Democracy, 18 October 2016. Confidential submission from Indian civil society. See also High Court of Kerala, Asokan K.M. v. The Superintendent of Police, WP(Crl.) No. 297 of 2016, Judgment of 24 May 2017. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the view she understands to be expressed in the submission of Algeria that sexual orientation is an issue to which personal autonomy and personal freedom applies. Submission of Algeria, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments. Jeffrey Gettleman, “Americans’ role seen in Uganda anti-gay push”, New York Times, 3 January 2010. Submission from International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and ARC International. LGBT organization “Coming Out”, Transgender Legal Defense Project and the Russian LGBT Network, “Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Ri ghts in the Russian Federation: sexual orientation and gender identity issues ” alternative report submitted to the Human Rights Committee, on its 111th session, Geneva, July 2014, p. 4. Submission from International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and In tersex Association and ARC International. 19/23