Activity as it is used and abused to restrict religious freedom, and to repress and attempt to ban nonviolent religious groups; notes furthermore with great concern that 265 religious and faith-based organisations are on a black list of so-called extremist organisations; 136. Urges, furthermore, the following countries to stop restrictions on freedom of association and assembly of religious groups and to respect freedom of religion or belief: Saudi Arabia, Egypt , Eritrea, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Belarus, North Korea and Laos; 137. Underlines the obstacles still existing in parts of the world such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia and Sudan to the unhindered profession of faith, at both the individual and the collective level, as well as growing intolerance of religious minorities in countries with grounded democratic traditions such as India, and calls on the Commission to emphasise such issues in the context of its relevant political dialogues; 138. Firmly condemns any criminalisation or punishment for ‘apostasy’ in relation to cases of conversion from one religion to another or from one religious denomination (subgroup) to another, as still carried out in most of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa; calls on the EU institutions to exert pressure on these countries to reject such practices, in particular where capital punishment is the prescribed penalty; is deeply concerned about forced conversion practices still existing in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and asks for a clear commitment on the part of the EU institutions to the fight against such human rights violations; 139. Recalls that in a number of countries in the world, prohibition, confiscation and destruction of both places of worship and religious publications, and prohibition of the training of clergy, are still common practice; urges the EU institutions, in their contacts with the relevant governments, to counter such violations and to encourage those countries where blasphemy laws are used for the purpose of persecuting members of religious minorities to amend or abolish such provisions; 140. Stresses that for the EU freedom of conscience is a fundamental value, incorporating the freedom to believe or not to believe and the freedom to practice the religion of one’s choice; Freedom of expression 141. Is concerned that freedom of expression has come under attack in various new forms, especially using modern technologies such as the internet; reiterates that freedom of expression includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any medium; 142. Recognises that new technologies provide unprecedented opportunities to participate in public life, express opinions, gain access to information about human rights and make violations of human rights known to the rest of the world; is concerned that states are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as dual-use technologies, to censor information and monitor activities on the internet, and that harassment, persecution and even detention and imprisonment of people using the internet to exercise the right to freedom of opinion and expression have occurred in a number of countries; 143. Encourages the HR/VP to take the lead in adopting a position and developing concrete policies for the EU to act as a global player when it comes to internet freedom by covering not only ways of addressing threats to human rights through the use of new technologies, but also using them as a means of enhancing opportunities to protect and support human rights; 144. Urges countries that limit access to the internet to lift restrictions on the free flow of information;