A/HRC/4/21/Add.1 page 69 Rapporteur wishes to point out that in addition to the special protection that is granted to religious places, sites and shrines by resolution 2004/36, members of religious communities or communities of belief, whenever they find themselves in places of worship, are in a situation of special vulnerability given the nature of their activity. The Special Rapporteur is therefore of the opinion that States should pay increased attention to attacks on places of worship and ensure that all perpetrators of such attacks are properly prosecuted and tried. More generally, as mentioned, inter alia, in paragraph 4 of the Human Rights Committee’s general comment No. 22, the Special Rapporteur insists that places of worship are an essential element of the manifestation of the right to freedom of religion or belief to the extent that the great majority of religious communities or communities of belief need the existence of a place of worship where their members can manifest their faith. Moreover, unlike other forms of violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief, attacks or other forms of restriction on places of worship or other religious sites and shrines in many cases violate the right not only of a single individual, but the rights of a group of individuals forming the community that is attached to the place in question.” Turkmenistan Communication sent on 2 December 2005 291. The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government the information that, since August 2005, the State Security Ministry (MSS) secret police has been monitoring young men who regularly visit mosques in the central Ahal region. The MSS is also systematically questioning the parents of young practising Muslims. Concern has been expressed that the authorities are conducting a campaign against Islam religious practice under the pretext of combating “Wahhabism”. Mr. Muhamad Nurmukhamedov and Mr. Yager Kurbanov, both residents of Dashoguz, were reportedly arrested as part of this campaign, after they were accused of “Wahhabism”. Reports further indicate that MSS secret police officers have obliged all Imams to post lists of mosque-goers above the doors of their mosques and to prevent people whose names are on the list from visiting the mosque. Concern has also been expressed that Imams are forced to place copies of the Ruhnama (Book of the Soul) in a place of honour in each mosque and to quote from it during sermons. Response from the Government dated 28 February 2006 292. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan informed that the relevant law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan have taken steps to elucidate the incidents referred to in the communication and have established that the persons referred to in the communication do not live in Dashoguz velayat (province). In accordance with national legislation, religious organizations and groups, irrespective of their size, denomination or religion, are registered in Turkmenistan in compliance with universally recognized norms. There are no instances of detention of people on account of their beliefs, or of the application of administrative sanctions against them. 293. The Government of Turkmenistan maintains that the information obtained which states claims about the two mentioned persons are from unreliable sources and is absolutely untrue. The Government of Turkmenistan also inform that there has not been a single instance of arrest or conviction on political, religious or other grounds in Turkmenistan. Moreover, since its society is politically stable, all conditions have been created to ensure the livelihood and development of all