E/CN.4/1999/58 page 16 entirely adequate to satisfy the requirements of the religious public; (b) the recent expansion of the Tibetan economy had provided many job opportunities for Tibetans, especially young people, and had led to a reduction in the number of people electing to join monastic communities; (c) since the 1990s, preferential education policies in the Tibetan region had led young Tibetans to study culture and science rather than enter monasteries. However, Tibetan monks and nuns still accounted for 2 per cent of Tibet's population. The reply stated that the Dalai Lama used religion (an example being the designation of the Panchen Lama) to pursue separatist activities, of which the great bulk of monks and nuns and religious believers in Tibet disapproved. The reply denied the allegation that the child designated as Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama was being detained and the following explanation was given: the security measures for the boy and his parents had been adopted at their request following an abduction attempt by exiled Tibetan separatists. The reply noted that Chadrel Rinpoche, Champa Chung and Samdrup (see E/CN.4/1996/95, para. 40; E/CN.4/1997/91, para. 43 (e); E/CN.4/1998/6, para. 73; A/52/477, para. 36) had been sentenced to prison terms for imperilling the unity of the State and ethnic cohesiveness and damaging stability and development in Tibet; it was noted that, as Chadrel and Champa had infringed the State Secrets Law, it had been decided to hold the trial in camera. Cyprus 49. It is alleged that, in the areas controlled by the Turkish Army, a policy of intolerance and religious discrimination is directed against non-Muslims and their religious property (more than 500 places of worship and cemeteries desecrated and the Saint Makar Armenian monastery converted into a hotel, etc.). Egypt 50. Professor Hassan Hanafi was allegedly declared an apostate by Al-Azhar scholars because of his interpretations of Islam. One communication also speaks of excesses committed by armed extremist groups - Al-Gihad and Al-Gama'a al-Islamiya - against all segments of Egyptian society, and in particular law enforcement officers, intellectuals and Copts. From May 1992 to December 1997, in the Provinces of Minya, Asyut and Qena, Upper Egypt, several Copts were reportedly murdered by Al-Gama'a al-Islamiya because of their Christian beliefs; in 1998, three Copts were allegedly executed. It is also reported that Copts are victims of racketeering and that their churches are attacked. According to another communication, in July 1998, security forces in Maadi closed an unauthorized Coptic church. However, the procedure for obtaining a construction or renovation permit is said to be so complicated that such permits are virtually never granted. 51. In connection with the Hanafi case, Egypt replied that statements made by this Cairo University professor during a talk had been criticized by a certain Al-Azhar Scholars' Association which had regarded them as a departure from the Muslim religion. The Egyptian authorities pointed out that the association in question was not legally empowered to review or assess research into Muslim religious teachings, and that no measures had been taken by anyone against Professor Hanafi. Egypt also referred to the facts in the Abu Zeid