A/HRC/13/40/Add.1
September to the end of 2006. He was untied after suffering cardiac arrest. He was later
detained in a solitary cell and tied to the bed. On 21 May 2007, Mr. Yu was transferred to
the Masanjia Forced Labour Camp in Shenyang City, where he was taken to the camp
hospital due to his overall weakness and stiff limbs. He was later transferred to the
Luotaishanzhuang Brainwashing Center in Fushun City. On 2 September 2008, Mr. Yu’s
term was extended for another year. He was sent back to the Masanjia Forced Labour Camp
in October, and has been held in solitary confinement since then. At the camp, Mr. Yu was
forced to sign a suicide letter, before he was beaten, including on his head with a steel
baton, hung and shocked with electric batons. As a result, he bled severely and lost
consciousness for more than a week. Repeated requests by his family to visit him have been
denied. As a result of the alleged beatings suffered by both Mr. Li and Mr. Yu in detention,
concern is expressed for their physical and psychological integrity.
73.
The Special Rapporteurs appealed to the Government to ensure the right to freedom
of religion or belief in accordance with the principles set forth in the Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief
and article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Furthermore, they referred to
General Assembly resolution 63/181, in which the Assembly urges States “to step up their
efforts to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, and to this
end: […] (b) To ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life,
liberty or security of person because of religion or belief and that no one is subjected to
torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or arbitrary arrest or
detention on that account and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these
rights”.
(b)
No response received from the Government
(c)
Observations of the Special Rapporteur
74.
The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has so far not received a reply from the
Government of China concerning the above mentioned allegations. The Special Rapporteur
is very concerned by the continued violations of freedom of religion or belief suffered by
Falun Gong practitioners (see E/CN.4/2005/61, paras. 37-38; E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.1, para.
109; A/HRC/4/21/Add.1, para. 88; A/HRC/7/10/Add.1, para. 32; A/HRC/10/8/Add.1, para.
22). She would like to take this opportunity to refer to the chapter on “Religious minorities
and new religious movements” in her report to the fourth session of the Human Rights
Council (see A/HRC/4/21, paras. 43-47).
E.
1.
(a)
Czech Republic
Urgent appeal sent on 16 July 2009 jointly with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the
Working Group on arbitrary detention, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights
of migrants, and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment
Allegations transmitted to the Government
75.
The Special Procedures mandate holders brought to the attention of the Government
information they had received regarding Mr. Bauyrzhan Imangaliev, aged 30, citizen of
Kazakhstan. Mr. Imangaliev is currently awaiting deportation in the refugee camp “Bélá
Jezová” in the Czech Republic together with his pregnant wife and two small children. He
claimed that in his country of origin, Kazakhstan, he was subjected to persecution on the
part of the authorities for religious reasons as a member of an independent Muslim
community which is not controlled by the official religious structures in Western
22