A/51/542/Add.1 English Page 24 manifestations of intolerance were the result of isolated provocations by extremists and should not be over-dramatized. The same applies to cases in which cemeteries were desecrated. 113. With regard to the waqfs, apart from the views set out in the section on legislation (chap. I), the Special Rapporteur notes that in practice there is a difference of opinion within the Muslim community and vis-à-vis the authorities concerning the procedure for selecting members of the committee for the administration of the waqfs. During the Special Rapporteur’s visit, protest demonstrations demanding that the members of the committee should be elected reportedly took place, during which the miserable condition of the waqfs was denounced. (ii) Education 114. Turkish, being the only minority language to possess a written form (Pomak and Roma do not), is taught in over 240 minority schools (primary and secondary schools and lycées) in Thrace to a total of 11,000 Muslim students. Their education is the responsibility of a large number of teachers (770), of whom more than 250 are graduates of the Special Teachers’ Training College in Thessaloniki who perfect their knowledge of the Turkish language at this college, which has been operating for over a quarter of a century. 115. It must be noted, however, that according to the authorities, owing to the exclusive teaching in a minority language, the imperfect knowledge of Greek on the part of many minority students constitutes a very serious obstacle to their social and professional integration. 116. The Muslim minority’s level of education is thus apparently very low, which prompted the new law of October 1995 intended to facilitate access to higher education by Muslim students (see chap. I). (iii) Employment 117. The situation described and the comments made in the sections relating to Christian minorities are equally relevant to the Muslims in Thrace. (iv) Other spheres 118. The status of the Muslim minority in Thrace appears essentially to be both a political and a religious issue, in which politics often makes a tool of religion. This has a real impact on religious affairs, as evidenced by the serious problems relating to the methods of appointing muftis or members of the committee for the administration of the waqfs and teachers of religion. 119. The political relations between Greece and Turkey seem to be an essential factor in these problems. Most of the non-governmental observers stressed the fact that the Muslim minority in Thrace was held hostage by Greek-Turkish relations. Each State is apparently in part responsible for the unsatisfactory status of the Muslims in Thrace, with Turkey considering them more as a political pawn and Greece not paying sufficient heed to the views of this community that has clearly been living marginally and has been the butt of long/...