A/58/296 Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. In addition, as a religious minority, Baha’is are entitled to the respect due to all other religious minorities. Israel 62. By letter dated 11 April 2003, the Special Rapporteur informed the Government of Israel of a report that on 22 August 2002 the Israeli police had arrested Archimandrite Theodosios Hanna, spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and had charged him with illegal entry of an enemy country and relations with terrorist organizations. 63. The Special Rapporteur has also been informed that the Israeli authorities have still not recognized the canonical election in August 2001 of His Holiness Ireneos, Patriarch of the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem. 64. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur has been informed that in January 2003 Israeli forces prevented over 800 Palestinians on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia from leaving the Gaza Strip. 65. The Special Rapporteur awaits a reply from the Israeli authorities and stresses the need for Israel to ensure respect for the right of all persons to freedom of religion. Kazakhstan 66. By letter dated 11 April 2003, the Special Rapporteur informed the Government of Kazakhstan of a report that, although religious groups are not legally obligated to be registered, the authorities are persecuting unregistered groups and, at the same time, are raising a number of obstacles to their registration. 67. For example, on 8 September 2002, members of the National Security Committee are said to have raided the apartment of a Baptist pastor, Kormangazy Abduratov, during a bible study meeting. Although the authorities have reportedly refused to permit the registration of this church, the security forces accused it of not being registered and took several participants in the meeting away for interrogation. These events were filmed and subsequently broadcast on television with comments that the Baptists were a “dangerous cult” and took children away from their parents. 68. In April 2002, regional authorities reportedly raided an unregistered farm run by the Society for Krishna Consciousness in the village of Yeltay. Pictures of this raid were broadcast on television and the Krishnas were described as extremists and criminals. 69. Lastly, in 2002, there were reportedly 28 court cases involving Jehovah’s Witnesses accused of holding religious meetings without being registered. 70. The Special Rapporteur draws attention to his comments on registration procedures in paragraph 28 of this report. Kyrgyzstan 71. By letter dated 11 April 2003, the Special Rapporteur informed the Government of Kyrgyzstan of a report that the second draft of a bill on freedom of conscience and religious organizations contained provisions which would make the 12