E/CN.4/2001/0063 page 36 refrain from any further programming or coverage that encourage intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief while at the same time safeguarding press freedom. 142. A further communication alleges that in February 2000 law-enforcement officers in Konya discovered the bodies of two women at a site used by Hezbollah. One of the victims, the writer Konda Kuris, had apparently been kidnapped on 16 July 1998 in Mersin and had been murdered for her criticism of Muslim extremist circles. 143. In its reply, Turkey confirmed the aforementioned allegations and explained that the security forces had arrested the members of the illegal organization Hezbollah responsible for murdering Ms. Kuris. Court proceedings were currently under way, but certain persons implicated in the murder were still at large. A nationwide police operation was in progress with a view to apprehending the suspects. 144. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Turkish authorities for their detailed reply and for any future information on measures taken or planned to deal with religious extremism. Ukraine 145. The duration of alternative civilian service is twice as long as military service and thus has a punitive character. Moreover, conscientious objectors who belong to religious communities that are not officially registered by the authorities are unable to assert their right to perform alternative service. Viet Nam 146. It is reported that Pastor Tran Tran Son has been forbidden to perform religious activities in Ho Chi Minh City. Yemen 147. On 16 January 2000, Mohammed Omer Hadji, a Somali refugee resident in Yemen, was reportedly arrested and held at Tawahi police station on account of his conversion to Christianity. Following his release on 13 March 2000, he was allegedly beaten by the police and told that he would be killed unless he returned to the Muslim faith. He was reportedly rearrested two months later and condemned to death by a court for apostasy, although the court stated that the death sentence would not be carried out if he reconverted to Islam. 148. Yemen replied: “… concerning the case of the Somali refugee Mohamed Omar Haji who apostatized from Islam, we wish to point out that such conduct constitutes an offence under Yemeni laws and legislation. Accordingly, the said person was arrested and referred for trial on the charge of apostasy from Islam to another religion. However, in view of his status as a refugee in Yemen, the Yemeni Government decided that it would be more appropriate to expel him from the territory of Yemen in collaboration and