A/52/477 English Page 9 (b) In Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, a climate of intolerance may adversely affect certain religious minorities and religious communities (Christian communities in Azerbaijan and the Jehovah's Witnesses in Bulgaria). In Georgia, the Orthodox Church is said to try to restrict the activities of other Christian organizations, while Romania is said to be hostile to members of the Greek Orthodox Church and to the Jehovah's Witnesses. In Nicaragua, there is allegedly a campaign by the Catholic Church to introduce Catholic textbooks in public schools. These textbooks would appear to preach a message of intolerance towards other religions. 32. It is important to remember that religious intolerance and religious extremism of any kind can occur both within a religion and between religions. 33. The third category concerns violations of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief: (a) The question of conscientious objection is raised directly: (i) In Albania the legislation does not provide for alternative service or other forms of unarmed national service for conscientious objectors, who may be subject to judicial proceedings, fines and imprisonment. Exemption from military service may be granted in return for monetary payment, which is a discriminatory measure; (ii) (iii) (iv) In Belarus and Mongolia, the law does not provide for an alternative to military service; In Austria, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, there is a legal time limit within which conscientious objectors must declare their refusal to undertake military service or apply to do nonmilitary national service; In Austria, Portugal, Macedonia and Slovakia, the duration of alternative service is such as to make it appear a form of punishment; (v) In Slovakia, there have been reports of conscientious objectors being sent to prison; (b) The freedom to change one's religion is also being violated: (i) In Qatar and Kuwait, the conversion of a Muslim to another religion is strictly prohibited and is punishable by death (Kuwait); (ii) In India and Israel, draft laws banning conversion have been drawn up; (iii) In Egypt, a Muslim who converted to Christianity was arrested and was allegedly interrogated to force him to provide information about the activities of converts; (iv) In India, a Hindu who converted to Christianity is said to have been attacked by Hindu extremists. /...