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253. Mr. Kalataevsky had been expelled from his country in 2001 for inciting “religious
unrest” since he had organized prayer groups and religious meetings for an unregistered Baptist
group. After being released with no money or food across the border in Kazakhstan he allegedly
had no option but to return to Turkmenistan. On 12 March 2007, while Mr. Kalataevsky and his
wife were trying to regularize his status in his native town of Turkmenbashi (formerly
Krasnovodsk), he was arrested by secret police of the Ministry of State Security (MSS). Mr.
Kalataevsky has been held since 17 March 2007 in temporary isolation cells in the town of
Balkanabad (formerly Nebit-Dag) near Turkmenbashi while the regional MSS secret police
continued their investigations. In June 2007 he has been moved to a harsher labour camp in Seydi.
The camp is 1,200 kilometres away from his family home, and armed guards with machine guns
denied the family the opportunity to see him during the transit.
Observations
254. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government
concerning the above mentioned allegation. However, she is grateful that the Government has
extended an invitation to visit Turkmenistan and she intends to address the issues involved in her
country report.
Turkey
Communication sent on 27 April 2007 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion
and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
255. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government information they had
received regarding three Christian employees of the Zirve publishing house who distributed
bibles in Malatya, a city in eastern Anatolia, and who on 18 April 2007 were found dead with
their throats slit and their hands and legs bound. Allegedly, one man was still alive when found,
was taken to the hospital but died later. Reportedly, one of the victims was the director of the
publishing house. According to the information received, the Zirve publishing house prints bibles
and Christian literature. Its employees had reportedly been the target of threats and a
demonstration by nationalists accusing them of proselytism. Concern is expressed that these
killings may be in connection with their freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.
Response from the Government dated 25 June 2007
256. The Government indicated that the incident has prompted a great reaction in all segments
of the society in Turkey. The perpetrators of this crime were captured and brought to justice soon
after the incident. Freedom of religious belief and conscience is firmly safeguarded by the
Turkish Constitution and the relevant legislation. Equality before the law and the prohibition of
all forms of discrimination are enshrined as fundamental principles of the Republic in the Turkish
Constitution. The religious rights of non-Muslim citizens are further protected in accordance with
the Lausanne Peace Treaty. There are more than 300 places of worship belonging to non-Muslim
communities, including 53 churches run by foreigners residing in Turkey. As of December 2006,
122 foreign clergymen have been registered with working permit to serve in places of worship.
257. The Government informed that the dissemination of religious beliefs is not prohibited
under Turkish Law, contrary to the suggestions made in connection with the last incident. Indeed,