A/58/296 explosions and fomenting of separatism. His aide, Lobsang Dhonhup, was also reportedly sentenced to death. 34. Finally, the Special Rapporteur drew the attention of the Chinese Government to a draft “anti-subversion” law submitted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, whose vague and broad definition of terms such as “subversive activities”, “treason” and “sedition” are allegedly likely to undermine freedom of religion and belief. 35. In a second communication of 12 June 2003, the Special Rapporteur transmitted information on the arrest of three monks, Tamding, Palzin and Shongdu, and a layman, Ngodup, of the Serthar Buddhist Institute on 27 May 2003. They were reportedly arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in an incident on 25 December 2002 related to the reconstruction of housing destroyed the previous year by the authorities, during which there were reports of casualties and destruction of police vehicles (see para. 21 of E/CN.4/2003/66). Egypt 36. On 11 April 2002, the Special Rapporteur sent the Egyptian Government a communication in connection with information according to which Salwa Iskandar Hanna has allegedly been denied her husband’s pension since his death in February 2002, because the Government does not recognize Baha’i marriages. 37. The Special Rapporteur was also informed of the publication of an article in the daily Al-Ahram of 11 July 2002 in which the author allegedly said that anyone converting to the Baha’i religion should be considered apostate and executed if the apostasy persists. 38. The Special Rapporteur, recalling the observations made in his previous report to the General Assembly (A/57/274) concerning action taken by the Egyptian authorities to contain and prevent displays of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, urges that this positive approach should not incidentally lead to discrimination against certain religious minorities. Moreover, while recalling the need to respect freedom of the press, he wishes to draw the attention of the Egyptian authorities to the necessity of combating any call for religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility or violence and which therefore must be prohibited by law. United Arab Emirates 39. In a communication of 8 May 2003, the Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government of the United Arab Emirates information according to which Reverend Fernando Alconga, a Philippine priest from the Conservative Baptist Association, accused of having given Christian publications in Arabic to non-Christians, reportedly received a suspended sentence of one year in prison, was forbidden to enter the territory and had property confiscated. United States of America 40. In a communication of 2 June 2003 addressed to the United States Government, the Special Rapporteur expressed concern that incidents of religious intolerance continued to occur in the United States and that the incidents may have been encouraged, in particular by statements from public figures and by a certain media bias. 8

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