A/HRC/4/21/Add.1
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of parents to ensure the religious and moral education of their children” (category I. 3. g). As she
noted in her 2005 report to the General Assembly, “with regard to children, the choice of religion
is restricted by the parents’ rights to determine their child’s religion up to an age where the child
is capable of doing so on his/her own, in accordance with article 18, paragraph 4, of the
Covenant.” (A/60/399, para. 54).
Communication sent on 2 June 2006
43.
The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government the information she
had received concerning the attack on Hindu worshippers in Chandpur. According to what has
been alleged, on 31 October 2005 a group of Hindus held a religious meeting in the house of
Pradip Chandra in Hijlakandi village, Chandpur district, when they were attacked by a group of
Muslims from the same village. The attackers threatened and assaulted the worshippers and
demanded money from them. They also ransacked the materials and musical instruments of the
Hindus and snatched a gold chain belonging to one of the women in the group. The victims
lodged a case with the Matlab North police station after which police officials visited the spot. No
formal police investigation has been undertaken. Leaders from both communities have initiated a
reconciliation programme.
Response from the Government dated 7 June 2006
44.
The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh assures that the contents of the communication
have been duly noted and forwarded to the concerned authorities of Bangladesh in order to take
further action as deemed appropriate.
Observations
45.
The Special Rapporteur thanks the Permanent Mission for acknowledging receipt of the
communication. She would be grateful to receive information about any police investigation
launched and on the results of any such investigation, together with the outcome of the
reconciliation programme which had been initiated by leaders from both communities. The
Special Rapporteur would like to take the opportunity to remind the Government of article 6 of
the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based
on Religion or Belief, according to which the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or
belief includes the freedom, “(a) To worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief
[…]; (c) To make, acquire and use the necessary articles and materials related to the rites or
customs of a religion or belief”.
46.
Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur would like to refer to her framework for
communications, more specifically to the international human rights norms and to the mandate
practice concerning “Freedom to worship” (see above para. 1, category I. 3. a) and “Places of
worship” (category I. 3. b). As she noted in her 2005 report to the Commission on Human Rights,
“members of religious communities or communities of belief, whenever they find themselves in
places of worship, are in a situation of special vulnerability given the nature of their activity. The
Special Rapporteur is therefore of the opinion that States should pay increased attention to attacks
on places of worship and ensure that all perpetrators of such attacks are properly prosecuted and
tried.” (E/CN.4/2005/61, para. 49).