E/CN.4/2001/0063 page 18 impediment. The State is also responsible for the religious education of pupils. In all schools in Greece Orthodox Christianity is the only faith taught, since most Greek pupils are Orthodox, whereas education in another faith is practically impossible, since the number of pupils who are believers in other religions is very limited. It is equally impossible for every school to have a religion teacher for pupils who belong to another denomination or religion. Thus the measures that apply to Muslims in any primary school apply to all non-Orthodox pupils. Consequently, the protest by the leaders of the Muslim community in Athens proves the opposite point, for they are seeking special treatment for their own religion; however, as noted above, it is practically impossible to have special religion teachers in primary schools. Apart from this it must be noted that Greece’s treatment of non-Christian churches and non-Orthodox dogmas is determined by the objectives set in the religious curriculum, namely that pupils must be aware that all children of the world are brothers and that everyone must acquire a foundation that will enable him or her to survive and develop. Religious awareness, then, is based on the principles of equality and mutual respect for the religion of pupils, and this is clearly presented in several chapters of primary school textbooks. This holds true for secondary education as well. In schools attended by Muslims students, most of whom come from the Xanthi and Rodoppi region, teachers from their community teach them their religion and their language along with Greek language and history. Consequently, the protest by the leaders of the Muslim community in Athens is unfounded. As regards the desecration of a Jewish synagogue and graves, investigations by the competent authorities have not resulted in the identification or arrest of the perpetrators. These were most likely the isolated acts of persons with extremist views.” 51. The Special Rapporteur thanks Greece for this detailed information on religious education in the schools. While he appreciates the difficulties inherent in teaching minority religions in geographical areas where there are too few pupils belonging to these faiths, the Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to hold consultations with minorities, including the Muslim community in Athens, in order to find practical solutions to facilitate the teaching of minority religions to those desiring such instruction. Hungary 52. In May 2000 tax and customs legislation was reportedly amended to limit the tax exemptions available to churches having contracts with the State. This modification allegedly stripped most religious communities (such as Seventh-day Adventists, Evangelicals, Methodists and Pentecostalists) of their tax-exempt status, leaving only six churches exempt. India 53. In November 1999 in Orissa State the Government reportedly adopted an order in the form of an amendment to the Freedom of Religion Act, prohibiting all conversions without prior authorization from the local police and the district magistrate.