A/51/542/Add.1 English Page 26 succession. Similarly, the number of signatures required for the construction of places of worship is allegedly much larger in the case of the Orthodox Church than in the case of religious minorities. Moreover, in practice the Orthodox Church is reportedly no longer asked to express an opinion on requests for the establishment of places of worship, in particular because of the decisions of the Council of State. However, the opinion of the dominant Church is said to be necessary insofar as it is allegedly in a better position to express views on the need for places of worship. 126. The principle of religious equality is said to exist for all the religious minorities but is allegedly more limited in the case of the Orthodox Church. 127. The Orthodox Church considers that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are not a religion, but a sect which contests the divinity of Jesus Christ and the status of the Virgin and the Saints. The Orthodox Church says it is opposed, not to the religious conscience of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but to the propaganda methods they use vis-à-vis members of the Orthodox Church. The counteraction by the Orthodox Church is said to be based on the right to react morally against those who are hostile to the moral integrity of the members of the Orthodox Church and take advantage of the poverty and low cultural level of some of those members. 128. With regard to the failure to grant legal recognition to the Catholic archdiocese of Athens, the Orthodox authorities explain this as being necessary in order to avoid any confusion with the title of the Orthodox Archbishop. 129. Coexistence and dialogue between Muslims and the Orthodox Church are said to be progressing in a satisfactory way, except when interfered with by Turkish nationalist propaganda originating abroad. 2. Other spheres 130. With regard to the indication of religion on identity cards, the Orthodox Church favours an optional mention and considers this a necessary right for spiritual reasons. III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 131. The Special Rapporteur has focused on legislation in the field of tolerance and non-discrimination based on religion or belief (chap. I) and on the implementation of this legislation and on the policy in force (chap. II). He has analysed both the situation of the religious minorities and that of the dominant Orthodox Church and their relations with the State. 132. With regard to legislation, the Special Rapporteur observes that the existence of a State religion is not in itself incompatible with human rights. However, this situation, which in the case of Greece is sanctioned by the Constitution, must not be exploited at the expense of the rights of minorities and the rights linked to citizenship, which imply prohibition of discrimination /...