E/CN.4/1993/62
page 85
have been told that he was not clean and that he would not be allowed to use
the cutlery at the school cafeteria but had to bring his own if he wished to
eat there."
49.
In an additional communication sent on 27 November 1992 to the Government
of Pakistan, the following information was transmitted by the Special
Rapporteur:
"In pursuance of my letter dated 30 October 1992, I should like to inform
you that I have in the meantime received additional information concerning
Mr. Gul Masih, who was already mentioned in the Annex to my letter. It has
been reported that Mr. Gul Masih, a Pakistani citizen belonging to the
Christian Faith, who is said to have been arrested on 10 December 1991, is the
first person to be sentenced for blasphemy since the death penalty became
mandatory for this offence under Section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code. It
has also been reported that the case of blasphemy was filed against Mr. Gul
Masih in Sargoda a few days after he had refused to support a candidate of the
Muslim League in local elections, although it has been alleged that no
blasphemous reference to the Prophet Mohammad had been made."
Romania
50.
In a communication sent on 18 September 1992 addressed to the Government
of Romania, the following information was transmitted by the Special
Rapporteur:
"A number of recent reports have drawn attention to violations of
human rights, especially against the Uniate Church. According to the sources,
the Uniate Church regards itself as the national Church on a par with the
Orthodox Church, in accordance with the 1923 Romanian Constitution. Under
Act No. 358/1948, whose repeal the Uniate Church is calling for, it has been
dispossessed of its property, which includes 1,800 churches, cemeteries,
chapels, parish houses and 4 monasteries that are now in the possession of
the Orthodox Church, as well as 5 episcopal palaces, 3 religious instruction
institutions, 7 monasteries, 20 secondary schools, 6 hospitals, 4 orphanages,
3 retirement homes, land, libraries, museums and many religious and cultural
objects that are in the hands of the State, all in a total of 2,000 parishes.
The Uniate Church considers that it has been deprived of the right
to a full religious life and the right to freedom of religion because the
1948 expropriation is continuing. Since there are no places of worship,
masses, for which basic equipment is lacking, are celebrated in parks, in
private homes, in squares in front of former Uniate churches and in chapels
located in cemeteries.
It has been alleged that a compaign of intimidation has been unleashed
against members of the Uniate Church by persons who identify with the Orthodox
cause and that priests and their families have been attacked and believers
injured. According to the sources, threats continue to be made everyday, but
the police takes no action on complaints by Uniate believers. Persecution and
acts of violence designed to intimate the population allegedly also took place
before the 1992 census.