E/CN.4/2005/61/Add.1 Page 67 was to be held on 28 January 2004. It had been established by the inquiries that neither the church, nor other similar places of worship located in the district of Konak, Izmir, were subjected to any acts of aggression. 259. By letter dated 28 April 2004, the Government of Turkey transmitted additional information on the same case, declaring that according to recent information, despite the efforts of the competent authorities, since Mr. Ergôn had been missing and he could not be located, he was therefore tried in abstentia in line with articles 223-229 of the Penal Procedure Code. The next hearing was to be held on 3 June 2004. General information received from the Government 260. By letter dated 1 June 2004, the Government of Turkey transmitted to the Special Rapporteur an information note summarizing the developments in the field of human rights in Turkey and the progress achieved since December 2003, including the most recent constitutional amendments which entered into force on 22 May 2004. 261. On the question of freedom of religion, the Government indicated: (a) With regard to places of worship, the Ministry of the Interior instructed the local authorities on 24 September 2003 to designate the required places of worship in the preparation of public works plans, and to allow for the building of such places in provinces, subprovinces and towns, with the approval of the highest local civilian administrator; (b) Work is under way with regard to the preparation of a regulation on the methods and principles of the elections of the boards of non-Muslim foundations; (c) The Ministry of the Interior issued a circular on 24 December 2003 regarding the change of religious identity. In that regard, a certificate is no longer required and a personal declaration shall be considered sufficient for the change of religious identity; (d) A new institutional framework, the Minority Issues Assessment Board, was established with a view to addressing the problems of the non-Muslim minorities in Turkey. Observations 262. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its replies and information. Turkmenistan Communications and replies received 263. On 16 March 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a communication to the Government of Turkmenistan regarding a new law on religion that came into force on 10 November 2003 criminalizes unregistered religious activity. The new law also reportedly required religious groups to “coordinate” contacts with foreigners with the