A/51/542/Add.1
English
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national holidays and public parades organized in the schools, have been
punished and even expelled. For example, in petition No. 21787/93, Elias, Maria
and Victoria Valsamis versus Greece, report of the European Commission of Human
Rights, the Commission found that there had been a violation of religious
freedom in the case of a Jehovah’s Witness pupil suspended from school for a day
by the principal because she had not participated in the school parade to mark
the national holiday.
95. At times, young Jehovah’s Witnesses are allegedly victims of incidents of
religious intolerance, such as verbal insults and physical attacks, by Orthodox
pupils influenced by their teachers.
96. Lastly, it seems that school textbooks continue to disseminate a negative
image of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, despite the efforts made in the case of other
religions.
(iii)
Employment
97. The forms of discrimination described in the case of Catholics and
Protestants apply to the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well (see, in particular, the
cases of Pilaftsoglou, Tzenos and Nomidis, whose applications for teaching
permits were rejected on the ground that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses - Special
Rapporteur’s communications, E/CN.4/1994/79 and E/CN.4/1995/91).
(iv)
Other spheres
98. The observations contained in the sections on Catholics and Protestants are
relevant here. We should add that the situation seems more acute in the case of
the Jehovah’s Witnesses, probably because of their religious militancy, as
opposed to the low profile maintained by the other religious minorities. Its
manifestations, unique to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, are, in particular,
proselytism, conscientious objection and refusal to participate in events
contrary to their religious beliefs. Such religious militancy competes directly
with the interests of the dominant Church and indirectly calls into question the
legislative and political system of the Greek State.
2.
(i)
Jewish minority
Religion
Known religion and legal recognition
99. In Greece, the legal status of the Jewish religion is guaranteed by a
number of laws (L.2456/1920, L.F.367/1945, L.1675/1951, O.R. of 25 June 1951,
D-L 01/106 9). Under a presidential decree, a Jewish community can be founded
in towns where more than five Jewish families reside. Such communities are
legal entities under public law and are administered by an Assembly and Council,
which are elected by their members. All Jewish communities in Greece are
represented by the "Central Jewish Coordination and Consultation Council",
elected for three years by a general assembly composed of their special
representatives.
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