E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.1
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(e) Allow an independent expert to visit and confirm the well-being of
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima while respecting his right to privacy, and that of his
parents.”
108.
The Special Rapporteur would like to express her concern regarding the
implications and impact of the Regulations on Religious Affairs which took effect on
1 March 2005. She hopes that the new Regulations will promote religious plurality
and tolerance and would appreciate receiving more information of a general nature
containing an assessment of the implementation of the Regulations.
109.
The Special Rapporteur is very concerned by the continued violations of
freedom of religion or belief suffered by members of the Falun Gong. In her previous
report to the Commission on Human Rights, she explicitly mentioned members of the
Falun Gong as targets of various human rights violations because of their beliefs
(E/CN.4/2005/61, paras 37 and 38) . The Special Rapporteur strongly condemns the
continued lack of freedom of belief of members of Falun Gong.
Denmark
Communication sent on 14 November 2005 with the Special Rapporteur on
contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance
110.
The Special Rapporteurs were informed that cartoons representing the
prophet Muhammad in a defamatory and derogatory manner were published in the
newspaper Jyllands Posten in the course of September 2005. It was reported that the
series of cartoons were published after a writer complained that nobody dared
illustrate his book about Muhammad. Following the publication, two cartoons
illustrators allegedly received death threats.
111.
The Special Rapporteurs, while believing that limitations to the freedom of
expression have to be applied in a restrictive manner, expressed their concern
regarding actions that seem to reveal intolerance and absence of respect for the
religion of others, particularly in the aftermath of 11 September 2001. Such actions
may also constitute threats to the religious harmony of a society, and the source of
incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence on the basis of religion which are
prohibited by article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
112.
The Special Rapporteurs requested the Government to provide them
with information as to whether the facts alleged in the summary of the case were
accurate, whether a complaint had been lodged by or on behalf of the persons
affected by the consequences of these publications and whether any judicial or
administrative decision had been taken so far. The Special Rapporteurs also requested
information about the existing policy measures to promote religious tolerance and the
ones to closely monitor that kind of developments.
Response from Government dated 24 January 2006
113.
The Government confirmed that the Danish newspaper J yllandsposten had
published 12 cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad on 30 September 2005.