ple, proselytism is not permitted in the interests of neutrality.183 In Turkey, the religious freedom of armed forces personnel is limited by the secular nature of the republic; personnel cannot manifest their beliefs while on official duty or in such a way as to impose them on others.184 In their responses to the ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire, relatively few states cited legislation giving entitlements to recognition of freedom of religion in the armed forces over and above the normal constitutional requirements. Two that did were Slovakia and the Russian Federation.185 186 Box 11.6 Examples of Legal Recognition of Freedom of Religion in the Armed Forces186 Slovakia Russian Federation According to Art. 118.1.f of Act No. 346/2005 in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic, a professional soldier has the right to adequate spiritual care and to participate in religious activities, if this does not contradict the needs of the armed forces and the performance of the state service. In accordance with Art. 8 of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation on the Status of Armed Forces Personnel, armed forces personnel have a right to participate in public worship and religious ceremonies when free from their duties and have no right to refuse to perform their military service duties for the reason of their relation to a religion. The state has no responsibility for satisfaction of particular needs of a serviceman concerned with his religious beliefs; establishment of religious associations in military units is not permitted; religious ceremonies may be held on the territory of the military unit at the request of servicemen upon obtaining the permission of a commanding officer and at their own expense. A number of states responded to the questions concerning practice of religion and restrictions on freedom of worship187 by pointing out that the only restrictions applied were when religious practice interfered with the performance of military duties. This was the case in Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, and Switzerland. Access for a member of the armed forces to representatives of his or her religion is a key issue of religious freedom. Responses to the ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire showed that there is a clear divide among states. Fourteen states made available only a representative of Christianity, whereas six states also made available other religious representatives: Belgium (Christianity, Judaism, and other), Canada (Islam, Christianity, and other), France (Islam, Christianity, Judaism), the Czech Republic (Christianity and Judaism), Spain (Islam, Christianity, Judaism), the Russian Federation (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism), and the United States (Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and other). In the Netherlands, there are also Humanist counsellors. Although the need for access to representatives of minority religions obviously depends on the numbers of service personnel affected, it is nevertheless submitted that this is the better practice. The needs of some religious groups within the armed forces without a formal representative may be partially met by the establishment of religious associations among servicemen and -women (in Germany, for example, an association of Jewish soldiers was recently set up). In multinational forces, flexible pooling of religious representation between contributor countries may help address the question of representation for minority religions. Where religious representatives are permitted, their role is: to conduct religious services, to provide information to armed forces personnel on religious matters, to provide counselling services, and to provide religious support services. Where other procedures do not exist or are deficient, 183  ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire. 184  ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire. 185  Also see Order of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic No. 19/1998. 186  ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire, question 71.b. 187  ODIHR-DCAF questionnaire, question 71. 94 Handbook on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel