E/CN.4/1995/91
page 9
The Special Rapporteur was informed that, following the destruction
of the Ayodhya mosque in India in December 1992, extreme religious
violence broke out against Hindu and Sikh communities, particularly in
urban areas.
Acts of vandalism are said to have been committed against
’zairats’, ’shrines of Sufi Muslim orders’ and pre-Islamic funerary
’totems’ in Nuristan."
Albania
In a communication of 31 August 1994 addressed to the Albanian
Government, the Special Rapporteur transmitted the following information:
"According to the information transmitted, although the Albanian
Government has recognized the right of the Greek minority to practise its
Orthodox religion, no progress has been made in returning the religious
property confiscated from the Greek community under the former regime.
Moreover, it is reported that four bishops appointed by the
Ecumenical Patriarchate to help Archbishop Anastasios restore the
Orthodox Church in Albania were refused entry to Albanian territory on
the grounds that they were not nationals, when this nationality
requirement could not be met since all religious activity by the Greek
minority was seriously affected for 45 years.
The Special Rapporteur has also been informed that Orthodox priests
have allegedly been subjected to pressure by the authorities to conduct
their liturgy in Albanian rather than in Greek."
Algeria
In a communication of 18 August 1994 addressed to the Algerian
Government, the Special Rapporteur transmitted the following information:
"The Special Rapporteur is concerned by the tragic upsurge in
murders carried out by armed groups of Islamist militants, who are
reportedly continuing to kill civilians and targeting a larger and larger
proportion of the population. They are even said to be stepping up their
campaign of violent attacks directed against civilians. It is alleged
that women, journalists, judges, doctors and intellectuals, among others,
have been killed, wounded, abducted or threatened, while others who have
escaped death are living in constant fear.
It is reported that communiqués signed by the Islamic Armed
Group (GIA) call for ’enemies of Islam’, and particularly journalists,
intellectuals, women and foreigners, to be killed and that journalists
are continuing to pay a very heavy price. The Special Rapporteur has
been informed of the following alleged cases:
In September 1993, Saad Bakhataoui, an unemployed journalist, was
targeted by four Islamists and Abderrahmane Chergou, an employee of
Hebdo libéré, had his throat slit;