E/CN.4/1998/6
page 11
47.
All these provisional observations should, of course, be considered in
the light of the fact that the analysis of the replies to the questionnaire is
still continuing.
V.
REPORT ON COMMUNICATIONS SENT BY THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
AND REPLIES RECEIVED FROM STATES SINCE THE FIFTY-THIRD
SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
48.
This report relates to communications sent since the fifty-third session
of the Commission on Human Rights, the replies or absence of replies from the
States concerned, and late replies. Because of drastic budgetary savings, the
Special Rapporteur has been unable to publish his communications and the
replies from States, contrary to the practice followed since the establishment
of the mandate up to report E/CN.4/1995/91 of 20 December 1994. The
Special Rapporteur has therefore conducted an analysis of information in
the context of a status report on the 51 States which have been sent
communications since the fifty-third session of the Commission
(1988: 7 States, 1989: 22 States, 1990: 32 States, 1991: 20 States, 1992:
25 States, 1993: 22 States, 1994: 27 States, 1995: 49 States, 1996:
46 States, 1997: 49 States): Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria,
China (3), Comoros, Czech Republic, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Greece,
India, Iran, Iraq (2), Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Mauritania, Mongolia (2),
Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation (2), Singapore, Slovakia (2), Somalia,
Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2)
Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam (2),
Yemen and Yugoslavia.
49.
The Special Rapporteur therefore first analysed the communications and
then examined the replies of States.
50.
An initial analysis gives rise to a very general classification of the
communities which have allegedly been the victims of violations of freedom of
religion and belief, as reflected below.
Classification of communities which have allegedly been the victims of
violations of freedom of religion and belief:
(a)
Christianity: Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iraq, Mongolia, Mozambique,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Sudan, the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan;
(b)
Judaism:
Yugoslavia;
(c)
Islam: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece,
Iraq, Qatar, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uzbekistan;
(d)
Buddhism:
China, Viet Nam;