E/CN.4/1992/52 page 163 124. On the other hand, in its reply to the questionnaire, the Government of Germany indicated that "Article 4 (1) [of the Basic Law] guarantees freedom of faith and conscience ... This also includes the right to canvass support for [one's] own faith or to try and convert others." 125. On the basis of the experience he has acquired over the years, the Special Rapporteur has concluded that members of sects or religious entities which are perceived as such are the most frequent subjects of persecution for proselytism. As mentioned above, in Indonesia some minority religious communities have been described as "misleading religious cults" and have been banned as a consequence. Members of the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, whose religious tenets include preaching their religion to others, have also been persecuted in this connection in a number of countries. The incidents reported in this connection have ranged from withdrawal of legal status and confiscation of property to physical abuse and, in one reported case, death. 126. Persons belonging to minority religious communities which are not considered as sects have also been persecuted in several countries. In Nepal, persons charged with disseminating Christianity have reportedly been sentenced to six years' imprisonment; others have been beaten and threatened with more violent acts if they continued to practise the Christian faith. Persons disseminating Christianity have allegedly also been prosecuted in Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran. 127. Apostasy from and conversion to a different religion, even if it is an officially recognized one, may entail extremely serious consequences in a number of countries. In their replies to the questionnaire, most Governments did not deal explicitly with this issue. The majority provided general answers with regard to the freedom of religion, which may also comprise the right to change one's religion. In their replies to the questionnaire, no country stated explicitly that apostasy or converting to a different religion was illegal. Nevertheless, in the exercise of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur's attention has been drawn to the legislative provisions concerning apostasy and the individual situation of persons in a number of countries. Capital punishment is said to be applied for apostasy in Mauritania, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. The Special Rapporteur has also been informed that persons who have converted from the Muslim faith in the Islamic Republic of Iran have even been executed. Persons who had converted from the Muslim faith to Christianity in Egypt have reportedly been imprisoned and are said to have been subjected to ill-treatment. Persons have reportedly also been incarcerated for converting to Christianity in Nepal and have suffered job discrimination in the same context in India. (d) Application of the principle of reciprocity as regards the practice of religion bv foreigners 128. The Special Rapporteur was pleased to note that the majority of States reported that they did not apply this principle on their territory and that foreigners had the same rights as nationals in regard to freedom of religion, thought and conscience and enjoyed the same protection as citizens. Numerous Governments indicated that this question did not arise due to the prevailing climate of freedom. The principle of reciprocity in relation to the practice of religion has not been formally enshrined in the laws of the majority of countries that provided replies to the questionnaire.

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