A/51/542/Add.1 English Page 29 145. With respect to cemeteries, Jehovah’s Witnesses in certain localities are victims of acts of discrimination which should be combated by the State, since the more this community is threatened, the greater the State’s responsibility. 146. As for religious education, while Catholics benefit from religious teaching in accordance with their beliefs, they sometimes experience difficulties in securing the establishment of posts for Catholic religious teachers. The faith of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is also reported to be denigrated in Orthodox religious sermons. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur notes with satisfaction that minorities can be excused from Orthodox religious classes. 147. It is alleged that foreign non-European religious personnel experience problems in renewing their residence permits. 148. Moreover, Jehovah’s Witnesses are heavily penalized for proselytism and conscientious objection, which are inherent expressions of freedom of belief. 149. Outside the religious sphere, it is alleged that the Christian minorities are generally disadvantaged with regard to education, despite some progress (except in the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses) and face discrimination in gaining entry to the army, the police force and other sensitive administrative or teaching posts. 150. Furthermore, the Christian minorities face a general climate of intolerance and often insidious attempts to marginalize them either directly or indirectly in the religious, educational, professional and other spheres. To some extent the dominant Orthodox Church and the State both bear a definite responsibility in this respect, since the State cannot evade its responsibilities under international law on the ground that a special status has been established for the Orthodox Church, which the latter frequently makes use of. Among the Christian minorities, the plight of the Jehovah’s Witnesses seems to give the greatest cause for concern, insofar as adherents are convicted by the courts and subsequently fined or imprisoned, and also endure a degree of social ostracism which can take the form of physical or verbal aggression. This singling out of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is almost certainly due to their religious militancy, which is expressed through proselytism, conscientious objection to military service and a variety of public demonstrations which call into question the interests of the dominant Church and the legislative and political system of the State. 151. With regard to the problems related to legal recognition, places of worship, proselytism and conscientious objection, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the recommendations he made with regard to the relevant legislation. 152. The Special Rapporteur considers the status of the Jewish minority in the religious and other spheres to be entirely satisfactory. 153. The Jewish community nevertheless joins with the other religious minorities in condemning the mention of religion on identity cards, which is a potential source of discrimination. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendation regarding the legislation concerning identity cards. /...