A/54/386 69. Mauritania. Protestants are said to be subjected to restrictions with regard to all religious activities concerning Muslims. 70. Mozambique. Despite the progress made by the Government, the restitution of property confiscated from the Catholic Church and the Muslim community in 1975 following the attainment of independence has not been completed. 71. Myanmar. The authorities are reportedly pursuing their policy of intolerance and discrimination against minorities: Muslims in the states of Arakan and Karen and Christians in the states of Chin and Karen. In January 1999, the activities undertaken by the Christian community of Chin to commemorate the centenary of Christianity were allegedly opposed by the military by various means, such as prohibiting the erection of a cross on Vuichip mountain, arrests of clergy and the refusal to grant visas to foreign guests. 72. Niger. The legal status of women is said to be unfavourable. A draft family code aimed at eradicating all discrimination with regard to the ownership of property and the custody of children in the event of divorce, as well as the practice of repudiation, was reportedly blocked by the hostility of extremist Muslim organizations. Women supporting this draft have allegedly been threatened by extremists invoking Islam. 73. Uzbekistan. Several Jehovah’s Witnesses are said to have been arrested and fined or even imprisoned for religious activities which were illegal because their congregations had not been registered. 74. Pakistan. Muslim extremists are reportedly still using the blasphemy acts against the Ahmadi community. These extremists are said to have threatened the police in order to make them register their complaints about blasphemy. In Karachi, a Muslim woman who converted to Christianity was allegedly harassed by Muslim clerics and other Muslims. The woman’s children are said to have been expelled from their schools because of her conversion. The police were informed of these developments but allegedly took no action. 75. The curriculum of secondary schools apparently includes mandatory Islamic instruction for Muslim students, who must take exams on the subject. Reportedly, students from non-Muslim communities are denied this opportunity with regard to their own religions. Students in non-Muslim private schools can receive religious instruction, but this is not officially recognized at the national level. 76. Syrian Arab Republic. The Seventh Day Adventists are said to be requesting the restitution of their religious property confiscated in 1969. They would reportedly like to be able to resume their activities in the Syrian Arab Republic. 77. Republic of Moldova. The legislation reportedly makes no provision for alternative service for conscientious objectors, who can allegedly be imprisoned. The authorities apparently refuse to register the Jehovah’s Witnesses as a recognized religion, mainly because they object to military service. The Baptist Church, which has allegedly met with a similar refusal, is said to be forbidden to distribute its literature and to organize public meetings. The legislation apparently prohibits forced proselytism but is said to contain vague definitions. Reportedly, the local authorities, under pressure from the Orthodox Church, have refused to allow the Seventh Day Adventists to rent public buildings for religious activities. 78. The Government of the Republic of Moldova states that its Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and worship according to the law. A law on alternative service was adopted in July 1991. It also states that the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Union of Baptist Churches were registered on 27 July 1994 and 2 May 1995 respectively. 79. Dominican Republic. Members of the national police must allegedly attend Catholic mass. The Catholic Church is said to be given preferential treatment by the Government, especially with regard to the granting of public funds for church expenditures and tax exemptions on imported goods. 80. Samoa. Despite the constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion and worship, village councils in fact sometimes engage in discriminatory behaviour, including the expulsion of people not sharing the belief prevailing in the village and the destruction of their property. 81. Turkmenistan. The legislation on freedom of religion and religious organizations allegedly sometimes creates serious difficulties for minorities in the areas of religion and belief. With regard to the registration procedure, the criterion of 500 members (500 citizens who are at least 18 years of age) is apparently applied locally and not at the national level. Consequently, every minority must reportedly have at least 500 members in each town where it wished to carry out its activities. Because they are not registered, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are allegedly fined for holding private meetings. A Jehovah’s Witness was reportedly sentenced to prison for expressing his conscientious objection to military service. Despite the 11