E/CN.4/2001/0063 page 34 at Batticaloa and for a number of similar acts in the past (for example, the Buddhist shrine at Kandy in 1998). The Ministry of Defence has instructed the police and the armed forces to take appropriate measures to protect places of worship and pilgrimage. 129. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Sri Lankan Government for the detailed replies it has provided on one specific case in the wider context of the armed conflict, and endorses the measures taken by the State to ensure the protection of places of worship, in accordance with its responsibilities in the matter. Chad 130. On 25 May 2000 the Sultan of Kanem reportedly ordered the arrest of members of the Faydal Djaria Muslim community, originally from Nigeria and Senegal. The arrests followed a request to this effect from the Chadian Higher Council of Islamic Affairs, which justified its initiative by this community's alleged failure to conform to the principles of Islam. Specifically, it cited the practice of mixed-sex singing and dancing during religious ceremonies. Pressure from the Chadian Higher Council of Islamic Affairs has also resulted in the banning of the Faydal Djaria community by the Ministry of the Interior. 131. Aggressive proselytizing by evangelist missionaries is apparently at the root of tensions between the Muslim community and Christian minorities. Turkmenistan 132. On 21 June 1999, in Gyzylarbat, members of the National Security Committee are reported to have arrested Annamammedov Yazmammed, A Jehovah’s Witness, in order to take him to the office of the director of this congregation. Allegedly threatened with physical violence with the intention of forcing him to renounce his faith and to reveal the names of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gyzylarbat, he was eventually beaten because of his refusal to comply. On 22 June 1999, he was reportedly sentenced by the Gyzylarbat court to 12 days’ administrative detention for insulting the members of the National Security Committee. On 23 July 1999, Annamammedov Yazmammed is said to have been sentence to 10 days’ administrative detention, again because of his refusal to yield to the pressure of the National Security Committee. This scenario was apparently repeated on 7 October 1999. On 19 October 1999, the wife of Annamammedov Yazmammed was allegedly arrested by the National Security Committee in order to force her to sign a declaration of renunciation of the Jehovah’s Witness faith. 133. On 14 November 1999, in Ashgabat, the authorities are reported to have ordered the demolition of the only Seventh-day Adventist church in Turkmenistan. It appears that this congregation was registered in 1992 and obtained permission to build its church from the President of Turkmenistan. However, following the revision of the Religion Act in 1997 (making registration of a congregation conditional on the number of its members, the requirement being 500), this community was apparently stripped of its official status. Despite several attempts, the Adventists were reportedly unable to obtain the re-registration of their community.