E/CN.4/1995/91 page 41 However, the Public Prosecutor, who had initiated proceedings, is said to have appealed against the decision before the removal of the seals. On 21 March 1992, a court composed of three magistrates is reported to have considered the case on appeal and to have sentenced each of the defendants to 30 days’ imprisonment. The sentences are said to have been subsequently commuted as follows: 400 drachmas for each day of imprisonment for the first and the third defendants and a suspension of the prison sentence for a three-year period in the case of the second defendant, provided that he pay legal costs. In July 1993, this sentence was reportedly confirmed by the Supreme Court (Areopagos). Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation of Gazi in Heraklion (Crete) Concerning this case of the closure of a meeting place of the Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation, on the first occasion for lack of a permit issued by the local Orthodox Church authorities and by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs, then on the second occasion for proselytism (case described in detail in report E/CN.4/1994/79), on 7 August 1991 the accused reportedly referred the matter to the European Commission on Human Rights. On 14 September 1993, the Heraklion superintendent of police is alleged to have announced by decree that it had been ’decided to close and seal the place of worship of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, created and opened on 30 July 1983 in Gazi-Maleviziou/Heraklion (...) and that the decision shall remain effective until a permit has been granted’. Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Naoussa In the town of Naoussa, 100 kilometres west of Thessaloniki, the Jehovah’s Witnesses reportedly lodged an application with the Municipal Town-Planning Commission for a building permit for a meeting room. Following representations by the local Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Bishop, it is alleged that the mayor of Naoussa refused to issue a permit. Furthermore, the laws on education in force are said to make it difficult to appoint teachers not belonging to the Orthodox faith in Greece, and in particular Jehovah’s Witnesses. In this connection, it would appear that, to the knowledge of the Special Rapporteur, no solution has been found to the cases of Pilaftsoglou, Tzenos and Nomidis, whose applications for teaching permits are alleged to have been turned down on account of their belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith (case described in report E/CN.4/1994/79). The Patros Court of Appeal should decide on the case of Treafilos Tzenos on 28 May. Reportedly, Mrs. Theofilos Tzenos lodged an appeal with the Council of State, which heard her case on 11 March 1993. The Council of State is said to have not yet handed down a decision.