A/HRC/42/21 Human Rights Committee expressed concern regarding any tendency to discriminate against any religion or belief for any reasons, including the fact that it may be the subject of hostility by a predominant religious community. 26 16. The mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019, which killed at least 50 Muslim civilians and injured dozens more, in two mosques, 27 is an example of civilian firearm violence that impacts the right to freedom of religion. The shootings at synagogues in Pittsburgh 28 and San Diego, 29 United States, on 27 October 2018 and 27 April 2019 respectively, which killed 12 people and injured 9, are additional examples. 17. Civilian access to firearms also impacts the rights to freedom of opinion and expression when individuals use firearms to target and attack persons who hold opposing views. The right to freedom of opinion entails the right to hold opinions without interference; all forms of opinion are protected, including opinions of a political, scientific, historic, moral or religious nature.30 The right to freedom of expression includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds. 31 18. In countries with high levels of post-election violence, members of rival political groups often attack each other with firearms in the aftermath of contentious elections. 32 In Mexico, for example, 21 candidates were killed with firearms after federal elections in 2018. 33 In addition, 67 politicians were assaulted with firearms resulting in 28 injuries between September 2017 and August 2018.34 In other cases, civilians use firearms to attack individuals affiliated with a rival political group. In Norway, for instance, a civilian with far-right extremist views shot and killed 69 adolescents on 22 July 2011 at a Labour Party youth retreat.35 19. Journalists, social leaders and human rights defenders have also been killed with firearms by civilians wishing to silence their views. In Mexico, for instance, 130 journalists were killed between 2000 and 2017, mostly with firearms. 36 In Colombia, 82.5 per cent of homicides of social leaders and human rights defenders between 24 November 2016 and 31 July 2018 were committed with a firearm. 37 20. In States where ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities must not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.38 The Human Rights Committee has asserted in its general comment No. 23 (1994) on the rights of minorities that this right is distinct from all other rights to which they are already entitled under international human rights law. 39 21. Civilian access to firearms impacts this right when individuals use firearms to target members of ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities who are enjoying their culture, practising their religion or using their language. The shooting dead of nine churchgoers of African descent by a white supremacist in Charleston, South Carolina, United States, in 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 See para. 2. Reuters, “New Zealand begins funerals for mosque shooting victims, PM visits school”, 20 March 2019. Reuters, “Gunman targeting Jews kills 11 in Pittsburgh synagogue”, 27 October 2018. Reuters, “San Diego-area synagogue shooting leaves one worshipper dead, three wounded”, 27 April 2019. Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 34 (2011) on the freedoms of opinion and expression, para. 9. Ibid., para. 11. See the contribution of the Commission Nationale de Lutte contre la Prolifération et la Circulation Illicite des Armes Légères et de Petit Calibre. See the contribution of the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico. See www.etellekt.com/presencia-medios.html. Henrik Pryser Libell, “Anders Behring Breivik, killer in 2011 Norway massacre, says prison conditions violate his rights”, New York Times, 15 March 2016. See the contribution of the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico. See the contribution of the Liga Internacional de Mujeres para la Paz y la Libertad. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 27. See para. 1. 5