A/HRC/10/11/Add.3 page 12 Muslim cemeteries. Mosques function “underground” and illegally. They call for the legalization of Mosques and note that legislation allowing for a Mosque and Islamic Centre met with strong objections from the Greek Orthodox Church and Athens residents. When a Muslim dies the body is sent to the country of origin or to Thrace for burial. The Greek Orthodox Church reportedly donated land for a Muslim cemetery however progress has been slow. 37. Jewish representatives described a dwindling community of only two thousand. A member of the Jewish community participating in the Inter-religious forum, described harassment and continuing incidents of anti-semitism, which is “so engrained in society that people don’t recognize it”.11 Incidents of desecration and Anti-Semitic attacks continue to be reported. The government notes the success of positive measures to confront Anti-Semitism and prosecute criminal acts. Jewish representatives raised concerns over anti-semitic views expressed in the extreme right wing press and in mainstream newspapers and by public figures. 38. The Greek National Commission on Human Rights notes some successes in religious freedoms in the face of opposition from the Greek Orthodox Church. The decision to delete references to religion from identity cards was one such controversial decision that the GNCHR supported. The Minister of Education and Religion has issued a circular in 2008 stating that students from minority religions in public schools who don’t want to take religion classes, no longer have to justify their choice. The GNCHR notes that the issue of the Islamic headscarf has not emerged as a problem in Greece. 39. The government notes that there is no system of official recognition of particular religions in Greece. A fairly large part of the population are atheist or agnostics, on ideological or political grounds. It states that acts of animosity towards members of other religions are a fringe phenomenon not tolerated both by society at large and the Administration. The government highlights a substantial body of case law that supplements legislation in the area of the protection from religious discrimination. With respect to burial practices, Article 35 of Law 3448/2006 permits the cremation of foreigners or Greeks whose religious convictions allow it. An effort to map the presence of Muslims nationally has been launched in 2008 by an inter-ministerial Task Force to establish a stable and open relationship with the Muslims living in Greece and to cater properly to their needs. Law 3512/2006 provides for the construction of a Mosque near the center of Athens, funded by the State to be built on a plot of land ceded by the State. Projects for the Central Mosque and a Muslim cemetery are progressing slowly due to the size and budgets of such projects. C. Ethnic identity in the region of Florina 40. The Kingdom of Ancient Macedonia is part of the Hellenic historical and cultural heritage, reclaimed by modern Greece, and with a population of primarily ethnic Greeks, despite linguistic variations due to historical influence. The government points to the archaeological sites including Vergina, where tombs of King Phillip II and Alexander IV dating back to 11 In 2001 hundreds of Jewish headstones were vandalized and police protection was given to Synagogues to prevent desecration.