The case of Rafah Nached in Syria European Parliament resolution of 27 October 2011 on the case of Rafah Nashed in Syria

8.5.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 131 E/129

Thursday 27 October 2011

13.

Welcomes the setting-up of a Ministry for Human Rights and Social Development in Bahrain, and

calls on that ministry to act in accordance with international human rights standards and obligations;

14.

Calls for the admission of international observers to the trials of political prisoners as well as for

them to be allowed to monitor the work of the independent commission investigating human rights

violations to ensure objectivity according to international standards;

15.

Calls on the Bahraini authorities and the King of Bahrain to commute the death sentences of Ali

‘Abdullah Hassan al-Sankis and ‘Abdulaziz ‘Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain; reiterates its strong opposition to

the use of the death penalty and urges the Bahraini authorities to declare an immediate moratorium;

16.

Considers that the investigation which has been launched into the death of a 16-year-old boy,

Ahmed al-Jaber al-Qatan, during an anti-government protest must be independent, that the findings

must be made public and that those responsible must be brought to justice;

17.

Underlines the importance of reconciliation as an essential part of reform and stability in Bahrain’s

diverse society in which the rights of each citizen should be equally guaranteed in both the letter and the

practice of the law;

18.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President

of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the

governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Government and Parliament of the Kingdom

of Bahrain.

The case of Rafah Nached in Syria

P7_TA(2011)0476

European Parliament resolution of 27 October 2011 on the case of Rafah Nashed in Syria

(2013/C 131 E/17)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and to Article 18 of

the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which Syria is a party,

— having regard to the statements issued by the spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, EU High Represen­

tative, on 30 August 2011 on the worsening of the human rights situation in Syria and on

23 September 2011 on the situation of Rafah Nashed in Syria,

— having regard to the statements calling for the release of Rafah Nashed that were made by Isabelle

Durant and Libor Rouček, Vice-Presidents of Parliament, and Veronique de Keyser, Vice-Chair of the

S&D Group, at the plenary sittings of 14, 15 and 29 September 2011,

— having regard to the Council conclusions of 10 and 23 October 2011 and to the sanctions adopted on

13 October 2011,

— having regard to Parliament’s resolutions of 7 April 2011 (1) and 7 July 2011 (2) on the situation in

Syria, Bahrain and Yemen,

— having regard to its resolution of 15 September 2011 (3) on the situation in Syria,

— having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

(1) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0148.

(2) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0333.

(3) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0387.

EN

C 131 E/130

Official Journal of the European Union

Thursday 27 October 2011

A. whereas Rafah Nashed, Syria’s first practising psychoanalyst and the founder of the Damascus School of

Psychoanalysis, was arbitrarily arrested and detained on 10 September 2011 at Damascus airport by

officers of the General Intelligence Services; whereas she is known for treating victims of psychological

trauma as well as for her active engagement in favour of dialogue between all Syrians;

B.

whereas Ms Nashed is 66 years old and in a precarious state of health, as she has heart disease, is

recovering from cancer, has high blood pressure and has to take medication regularly; whereas her

health is deteriorating in prison, and this is aggravating her heart disease;

C.

whereas Ms Nashed was travelling to Paris to be with her daughter, who was expecting a child, when

she was taken to prison without charge and initially held in secret detention;

D. whereas on 14 September 2011 she was accused of ‘activities likely to destabilise the State’ and the

judge refused to release her on bail; whereas the nature of the accusation and the paranoia that has

gripped the regime for the last six months raise fears of a lengthy period of detention intended to

intimidate the whole of Syria’s intellectual community;

E.

whereas in the space of a very few hours a huge international campaign was mounted, including a

petition calling for her immediate and unconditional release;

1.

Strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and detention of Rafah Nashed by the Syrian authorities;

2.

Expresses the gravest concern about the situation of Ms Nashed, in view of her precarious state of

health;

3.

Calls on the Syrian authorities immediately and unconditionally to release Ms Nashed on medical and

humanitarian grounds and to guarantee her physical safety and return her to her family without further

delay;

4.

Demands that the Syrian authorities allow humanitarian organisations and doctors to treat the victims

of violence, and that they give them access to all parts of the country and enable them to carry out their

legitimate and peaceful work without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial

harassment; calls on the Syrian authorities to abide by international human rights standards and inter­

national commitments guaranteeing freedom of opinion and expression;

5.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of

the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments

and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the Arab League and the Government and

Parliament of the Syrian Arab Republic.

8.5.2013

قرار من البرلمان الأوروبي حول قضية المعالِجة النفسية رفاه ناشد المعتقلة في سورية، يطالب بالإفراج الفوري عنها وعن جميع المعتقلين السياسيين.