E/CN.4/1999/58 page 21 Kazakhstan 70. Jehovah's Witnesses were reportedly imprisoned for their objection to military service. The authorities, pressured by Muslim representatives, are said to have banned a Christian procession in Petropavlovsk. Latvia 71. The only synagogue in the capital was allegedly the target of a bomb attack; while the authorities reportedly condemned the act, police investigations have led nowhere. Malaysia 72. Certain individuals were allegedly arrested for preaching Shiite teachings perceived by the authorities as injurious to national security and the unity of Muslims. A Muslim woman who converted to Christianity was apparently subjected to manifestations of intolerance by her family, Muslim associations and the police, a situation that has forced her into clandestinity. Maldives 73. Police reportedly arrested nationals and foreigners for their participation in propagating the Christian faith. Subsequently, some of them were allegedly expelled while others were placed in detention. The prisoners were reportedly forced to participate in Islamic prayers and reading of the Koran. The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has reportedly enjoined the population not to listen to a Christian radio programme broadcast from the Seychelles. Lastly, the First Secretary of the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka reportedly declared in a statement in Colombo that the Maldives was a totally Islamic country and that it was a crime to disseminate the Christian faith. 74. The Maldives replied that any allegation of persecution of Christians was groundless: “Arrests and expulsions are based on breach of laws. Illegal activities, if carried out by foreigners, constitute a violation of terms of their stay, and might entail prosecution or cancellation of their visas. However, nobody has been arrested in the Maldives or expelled from it for professing any particular faith. Nobody is even questioned for professing any religion.” According to the authorities, the allegations transmitted by the Special Rapporteur were nothing but malicious propaganda. Mali 75. An extremist group known as the “Pieds nus” and claiming to belong to Islam reportedly murdered a magistrate who had passed a prison sentence on certain “Pieds nus” who had engaged in acts of violence.