A/57/274 51. Methodists reportedly face refusal from the authorities of the region of Transdniester to register them. It is reported that Dmitri Hantil, a Methodist leader, has requested registration for two communities three times during the past six years and that a Captain Soin of the National Security Ministry not only warned him to stop applying for registration for his churches with the Transdniestran authorities but also asked him to cease cooperating with international organizations. Turkey 52. On 21 February 2002, the Special Rapporteur sent allegations to the Government of Turkey concerning the following cases. On 13 February 2002, local authorities in nine provinces of Turkey, under alleged orders from the Turkish Interior Ministry, reportedly launched judicial proceedings questioning the legality of designated places of worship used by some 40 small Protestant church groups across the country. Formal notifications have reportedly been delivered to 23 congregations of Turkish Christians in Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Bursa and Mersin, allegedly declaring that their rented or purchased places of worship were in violation of municipal building laws and informing the congregations that, if they continued to meet in a place not officially zoned for religious use, legal action would be taken against them. Court cases pertaining to these charges are reportedly under way concerning Protestant groups in Izmir, Istanbul, Mersin and Gaziantep. “In recent years, some Protestant groups have begun using certain areas, which are designated for residences, shops and offices, as places of worship. At the request of several governorships, the Directorate General of Security sent them the rules to be applied. Those rules are listed in Turkey’s reply. No action was taken by the administration for the closure of existing places of worship. However, complaints have been filed to the Public Prosecutor’s Offices. The governorships of Antalya, Aydin and Mugla have been authorized to allow the use of historical churches for acts of worship and religious services by everyone, after restoration by the Ministry of Culture. Furthermore, upon the application of a group named Independent Protestant Churches in Izmir, Aya Vukla Church, which was in the possession of the Ministry of Justice, has been designated as a place of worship for this group.” Turkmenistan 55. On 4 March 2002, the Special Rapporteur sent allegations to the Government of Turkmenistan concerning the following cases. On 10 February 2002, police reportedly raided a private home where six Protestants were gathering in the city of Ashgabat, allegedly fined the four adults present and threatened the home owner with the confiscation of her home and with deportation. 53. Reportedly, a directive entitled “requests to open places of worship”, allegedly issued on 17 August 2001 and signed by the Under-Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Muzaffer Ecemis, referred to the Turkish Penal Code, which prohibits the use of apartment flats, shops and detached buildings as places of worship by Protestants, Baha’is, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Believers in Christ. It also reportedly declares that conducting Sunday schools, Bible schools or other religious education without permission from the Turkish Education Ministry is punishable with fines and prison sentences. In contrast, 81 per cent of the mosques under construction in the country have apparently obtained no licence, and 55 per cent have reportedly not even drawn up an architectural plan. 56. In November 2001 in Turkmenabat, Maryam Ismakaeva and five members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church were reportedly arrested at Ms. Ismakaeva’s apartment and their documents seized, including Ms. Ismakaeva’s document of ownership for her apartment. Allegedly, a statement of claim was sent by the city authorities to the court, in which Ms. Ismakaeva was officially accused of holding religious meetings of Adventist members in her apartment and it was stated that she should be evicted and not provided with any other place to live. Ms. Ismakaeva reportedly not only lost her apartment but also her registration in the country and had to leave the country. 54. By letter dated 18 June 2002, Turkey referred to the constitutional provisions applicable in this instance and replied, inter alia, that: 57. On 4 March 2002, the Special Rapporteur sent a communication to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding 11 Christians, including 4 clergymen who were reportedly arrested on 16 February 2002 while 10 Zimbabwe