E/CN.4/1991/56 page 87 58. In a communication of 16 November 1990 addressed to the Government of Egypt, the following information was transmitted by the Special Rapporteur: "According to the information received, in April 1990, Mr. Ayad Anwar Baskharoun, formerly Abdel Hamid Beshari Abdel Mohzen, an Egyptian citizen who converted to Christianity from the Muslim faith, reportedly died in Abu Zabul prison because of his conversion after being tortured and denied medical assistance. It has been alleged that Mr Ayad was apprehended by the police and the State Security in June and August 1989, respectively, and is reported to have been released and re-arrested four times during the two months that followed. It is also alleged that he spent 55 days in solitary confinement. While detained in Abu Zabul prison, Mr. Ayad is said to have complained of internal bleeding but was allegedly informed by the prison authorities that he could receive medical treatment only if he renounced his Christian faith and reconverted to Islam. Mr Ayad is reported to have refused to do so and subsequently died. According to additional information, Mr Ayad's death certificate is said to have been falsified to show that he had died in a hospital. With reference to the communication dated 20 September 1990 concerning the killing of six Egyptian citizens of Christian faith, namely: Father Hanna Awad, pastor of the Anba Shinouda Church in El-Nobaria near Alexandria, his wife Therese, deacons Dr. Gamal Rushdy, Mr. Sami Abdu and Mr Botros Bishai, and of the altar boy, 9-year-old Michael Sabri, it has been alleged that, following the funeral services for the six persons mentioned above, security forces attacked the funeral procession with clubs and gunfire, subsequently arresting and detaining 23 participants in this procession. It is further alleged that the 23 persons were tortured while in detention." 59. On 19 November 1990, the Government of Egypt sent its comments to the Special Rapporteur regarding the two above-mentioned communications: "The Egyptian Constitution stipulates that all Egyptian citizens are equal before the law, without distinction among them on grounds of sex, origin, language, religion or belief. All the national communities participate in the formulation of the State's public policy, since they all have members occupying senior executive, political and legislative posts in its various institutions. Emphasis is placed on the principle of constitutional legality, the rule of law and the impartiality of the judiciary in order to prevent the occurrence of any persecution or discrimination among the members of our united people. The State authorities concerned take all the requisite measures, in accordance with the law, in the event of any behaviour likely to prejudice national unity. This was done following the above—mentioned incident in the town of Abu Qirqas, when all the necessary legal measures were taken to bring the persons responsible before the courts. The State attaches considerable importance to the construction of places of worship for our national religious communities, since it believes that they play a major role in ensuring the education and upbringing of the rising generation in a sound and proper manner. The construction work that has been authorized furnishes ample proof in this regard.