A/58/296 7. While recognizing the difficulties inherent in national reconstruction after many years of conflict, the Special Rapporteur reminds the authorities of the need to guarantee freedom of opinion or expression and freedom to manifest religious belief within the framework and the limits envisaged by international law. Saudi Arabia 8. On 11 April 2003, the Special Rapporteur sent the Saudi Arabian Government a communication concerning the sentencing to death, on 7 January 2002, of Hail AlMasri, a Yemeni citizen accused of denigrating the religion of his co-tenant. Armenia 9. On 11 April 2003, the Special Rapporteur informed the Armenian Government that he had information that Hambartsum Odabashyan, a Jehovah’s Witness, had been sentenced on 1 April 2003 to three years of hard labour for refusing to perform military service owing to religious beliefs. During this period, 20 to 30 Jehovah’s Witnesses who were conscientious objectors were allegedly serving one- to threeyear sentences. 10. In his letter to the Armenian Government, the Special Rapporteur specifically requested information on the adoption of draft legislation introducing alternative service in place of military service. 11. The Special Rapporteur also informed the Armenian Government of the refusal to register Jehovah’s Witness communities, affecting 7,000 Armenians. 12. In its letter of 30 May 2003, the Armenian Government replied that, in the course of 2002, 20 Jehovah’s Witnesses had been sentenced by the courts and tribunals for refusing to perform military service. From January to May 2003, 10 persons had been sentenced on the same grounds. 13. With regard to the idea of alternative service in place of military service, the Government stressed that regular military service is obligatory in Armenia and that this is in conformity with international law. Nonetheless, on 8 March 2002, a working group on the elaboration of a draft law on alternative military service was set up and a draft law had already been submitted to the Government. 14. With regard to the situation of the persons mentioned by the Special Rapporteur in his letter, the Government explains that, since the law on alternative service has not yet been adopted, refusal to perform military service continues to be a criminal offence. 15. The Special Rapporteur expresses his gratitude to the Armenian Government for its reply, and, drawing attention to resolutions 1998/77 and 2002/45 of the Commission on Human Rights on conscientious objection to military service, encourages the authorities to introduce such legislation in the near future. 16. On 8 May 2003, the Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Azerbaijani Government information on the systematic destruction of thousands of “Khatchkars” (stone crosses 1 metre wide by 2.5 metres long decorated with Christian symbols) in the Djulfa cemetery since 9 November 2002. Other “Khatchkars” were allegedly removed by truck to unknown destinations. Similar destruction is reported to have taken place in November 1998. 5