E/CN.4/1993/62 page 44 looted and many among them burnt. It has been alleged that entire sections of towns and cities with a predominantly Shia population as well as the structures surrounding the holy shrines have been demolished with a view to changing their character. It has also been reported that the perimeter walls of the holy shrines which contain historic examples of ancient Islamic art and crafts are to be destroyed and replaced with iron bars, and that plans exist to build public parks around them. It has further been alleged that the holy shrines have also been looted and that their administration has been taken away from the Shia religious authorities and entrusted to those of the State. It has reportedly been envisaged to convert a number of holy shrines into museums, which would take away the spiritual and social role they play in the life of the Shia community. In addition, the construction and funding of new Shia mosques and meeting places is reportedly subjected to enormous legal and administrative obstacles. Religious leaders at the mosques are reportedly chosen by the authorities and the content of their speeches is monitored. They are said to be frequently harassed and restricted in their movements within and outside the country. Worshippers are allegedly also subjected to surveillance and intimidation by security officers. It has further been alleged that the movements of the Grand Ayatollah as-Sayyid Abul Qasim Al-Khoei, whose health is said to be deteriorating, remain restricted and that pressure is being exerted on him to appear on television and send envoys to official ceremonies. The members of his family, staff and their relatives who were arrested in March 1991 continue to be detained at undisclosed locations and more than 800 members of the clergy and religious scholars who had been rounded up in Kerbala and Najaf remain in incommunicado detention. Those who are not detained are said to have been prohibited from performing their religious duties and wearing their traditional dress. It has been alleged that there are currently only 15 religious scholars left in Najaf. Numerous religious schools, colleges and universities have allegedly been destroyed and closed. Many seminars are said to have been banned with the exception of those which have been officially approved. In addition, the official curriculum of the State school system allegedly only teaches the Sunni creed despite the fact that the majority of school children belong to the Shia faith. Information campaigns against the Shia faith accusing it of deviation and heresy have also been reported. Religious affairs units allegedly control the publishing of both contemporary and traditional works of Shia literature, as well as any books and magazines, while religious programmes with a Shia content cannot be broadcast on radio and television. It has been alleged that more than 1,000 Shia religious book titles have been banned by the Ministry of Information. Traditional Shia rituals concerning the Iman Hussein are said to have been completely prohibited, both in private and in public, as is also the case with other public manifestations and processions associated with Shia religious holidays, the majority of which are allegedly not officially recognized. It has further been reported that the application of the Shia law regarding personal and family matters such as marriage and inheritance is not permitted. Discrimination concerning employment opportunities and promotion of members of the Shia community is said to exist, particularly in the civil service, judiciary and the military. It has also been alleged that the