A/51/542
English
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43. Mexico provided detailed information and documentation on State initiatives
and action to promote reconciliation and respect for the religious freedom of
the Chamula and Catholic evangelical religious minorities.
44. Romania disputed the allegations of discrimination against the Romanian
Evangelical Alliance, especially as regards the procedures for approving
construction permits for places of worship. Moreover, it claimed that the two
"Voice of Gospel" radio stations had received authorization from the National
Audio-visual Council to broadcast, but on another frequency. As for the
restitution of church property taken over by the State in 1948, the authorities
outlined State legislation and policy in that area, which sought to identify the
most appropriate measures for preserving the current social usefulness of the
property in question without creating privileges for certain religions to the
detriment of others.
45. On the subject of replies to communications sent within the context of the
report to the fifty-second session of the Commission on Human Rights, the
Special Rapporteur has received written replies from the following States:
Austria, Belgium, China, Estonia, Germany, Japan, Maldives, Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The content of those replies will be reflected in
the next report to the Commission on Human Rights.
46. The Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey also sent communications to the
Special Rapporteur, for information.
V.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
47. Based on his experience in the daily performance of his mandate and his
visits in situ, the Special Rapporteur notes that no religion is completely safe
from attack and that no State or category of States, or religion or religious
group or community, has a monopoly on intolerance.
48. It is a fact that freedom of religion does not seem to have won over the
minds of all men and women. Each religion tends to believe that it is sole
guardian of the truth and that it has a duty to make everyone bear witness to
that truth. That does not always contribute to tolerance among religions.
Moreover, each religion may be tempted to fight what it may consider to be
deviance within its own ranks or around it. That does not always contribute to
tolerance within religions, especially tolerance of religious minorities.
Religious freedom is really threatened and even jeopardized when it serves as a
cover or an alibi for criminal acts which are often difficult to confront.
49. Such considerations lead the Special Rapporteur to express his grave
concern at the problem of sects. In 1996, an increasing number of cases
involving criminal acts - including murders - directly linked to groups
identified as sects came to light in many countries. The Special Rapporteur,
while sympathizing with the legitimate concerns expressed in various State
sectors, whether Governments, parliaments or non-governmental victims’
organizations, points out that the debate about sects and the campaigns against
them are far too impassioned. Since many questions and misunderstandings
surround the definitions and content of the terminologies of sects, new
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