E/CN.4/2005/61/Add.1 Page 71 both taken to the local khyakimlik (administration) the following morning but ordered to come back at 7 a.m. the following day. 276. In August 2004, two men in civilian clothes and a senior police officer went to the domicile of Adalat Charyieva, a Jehovah's Witness in Turkmenabad in order to question her about her faith. They reportedly interrogated her harshly and requested that she give them her Bible and other religious literature, threatening her with deportation “to where Christians are living”. They then reportedly ordered her to appear at the city's second police station with her identity documents, which she refused to do. 277. In September 2004, the Special Rapporteur received information concerning some ethnic Kurds – about 6,000 of whom live mainly in Ashgabad and other southern regions of the country along the border with the Islamic Republic of Iran – who were reportedly unable to practise their faith freely. Most of them were Sunni Muslims, and could therefore worship in Government-approved mosques. However, reports indicated that there were also Shi’ah Kurds and some Christians among them who often faced problems regarding freedom of religion. Reports indicated that Kurds who belong to the Yezidi faith were particularly affected. For instance, it was reported that Seiran Amanov, a resident of Bikrov, had been repeatedly interrogated by the secret police and accused of belonging to a "dangerous Islamic sect". 278. By letter dated 20 December 2004, the Government responded that it had been and remained committed to the unwavering and consistent implementation of the policy on ensuring comprehensive guarantees in the area of human rights and freedoms. Being a member of the United Nations and a party to over 80 conventions and international treaties, Turkmenistan strictly follows its obligations and carries out specific steps for their implementation. In this context, the Government noted that, in accordance with article 11 of the Constitution (18 May 1992), the “State guarantees freedom of religions and belief, and their equality before the law”. Religious organizations are separate from the State and they cannot interfere in affairs of the State and carry out State functions. Everyone has the right to independently determine his/her relation to religion, to profess or not, individually or jointly, any religion, to express and spread beliefs related to religion, and to take part in the practice of religious cults, rituals and ceremonies”. In further development of the constitutional provisions and in accordance with the Civil Code of Turkmenistan (17 July 1998), on 21 October 2003, the Parliament of the country adopted the Law on “Freedom of religious belief and religious organizations”, which ensures the right of every person to freedom of religious belief as well as the right to equality before the law, irrespective of his/her relation to religion and belief. 279. Moreover, on 11 March 2004, the President of Turkmenistan signed Decree No. 6627 on “Ensuring Religious Freedom of Citizens in Turkmenistan” according to which the registration of religious organizations and groups throughout the territory of Turkmenistan is carried out in accordance with international norms irrespective of the number of followers, their beliefs and the religion. 280. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that, at present, religious organizations and groups of Muslims, Orthodox Christians, the Church of SeventhDay Adventists, Bahá’ís, Evangelical Baptists and Hare Krishna groups were