A/58/296 administrative court refused a request to reverse the decision to close the apartment and suspend its enforcement. The Government notes, finally, that the small Protestant community of Hatay was able to use the Armenian Church of Karasun Manuk for its activities for 40 years without any difficulties. 101. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Turkish Government for its response and wishes to be kept informed of subsequent proceedings. Uzbekistan 102. On 11 April 2003, the Special Rapporteur sent a communication to the Uzbek Government relating to the difficulties that various religious minorities encounter in Uzbekistan, including the following. 103. Jehovah’s Witnesses – On 28 March 2002, the police allegedly interrupted three Jehovah’s Witnesses meetings, because the congregations were not registered, and some of the participants were fined. – On 21 April 2002, the police allegedly accused 13 Jehovah’s Witnesses who had gathered in an apartment in Tashkent of holding an illegal religious meeting. One of the participants, Mr. Mudarisov, was later summoned by the authorities to sign a confession and a pledge to stop holding such meetings. When he refused to sign, a court reportedly sentenced him to 15 days in prison. 104. Protestants – On 13 May 2002, the police reportedly broke into a private house in which the Protestant church of Novaya Zhizn was holding a service. On 16 May 2002, six participants were allegedly fined for organizing illegal meetings. – On 9 August 2002, the police allegedly searched an apartment in which 13 Protestants were meeting, in the town of Khojaly, and seized religious literature. The participants were allegedly fined. 105. Baptists – On 19 November 2002, a judge in the town of Navoy allegedly sentenced Nikolai Nikulin, a Baptist, to 10 days in prison for “illegally hosting a religious gathering in his apartment without a permit”. 106. Muslims – 150 Muslim prisoners from Prison No. 6461 were allegedly punished for observing the Ramadan fast. 107. In a communication dated 8 May 2003, the Special Rapporteur informed the Government of an open letter to the Minister of the Interior, dated 22 April 2003, in which 22 Muslim women prisoners allegedly complained of violations of their right to freedom of worship, having been punished for praying, having copies of the Koran confiscated and being forbidden to wear the veil. 17