MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
05.09.2005
pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by Cristiana Muscardini and Sebastiano (Nello) Musumeci
on the situation with regard to political prisoners in Syria
B6-0480/2005
European parliament resolution on the situation with regard to political prisoners in Syria
The European parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria,
- having regard to the UN Human Rights Committee 84th Session Final Conclusions and Recommendations on Report on Syria (July 2005),
- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 19 October 2004 the EU and Syria started an Association Agreement which includes among other things, matters containing a clause on human rights which commits both sides to work towards free trade.
B. whereas the defence of human rights is an essential element of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,
C. whereas political life in Syria is strictly controlled by the ruling Ba'ath Party, according to Article 8 of the Constitution, and the authorities have not allowed the establishment of any licensed human rights organisation,
D. whereas "Amnesty International" and other human rights defenders' organisations have issued reports about extensive limitations on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of association in Syria,
E. whereas the UN Human Rights Committee has expressed its concern "at the obstacles imposed on the registration and free operation of non-governmental human rights organizations" in Syria and "intimidation, harassment and arrest of human rights defenders",
F. whereas for unknown reasons civilians are being brought before Military Courts or the SSSC (Supreme State Security Court) and whereas trials before these courts are not independent or impartial and their procedures do not meet international fair trial standards,
G. whereas over the years thousands of suspected political opponents have been detained (often in incommunicado detention at unknown locations), tortured and ill-treated, including children, or detained without charge or trial, and others have been sentenced to long imprisonment terms after unfair trials before the military courts,
H. whereas civil activists (Hasan Zeino, Yassin al-Hamwi, Haytham al-Hamwi, Muhammad 'Ali al-'Abdullah and others) in Syria have recently been imprisoned on charges of "possession of publications of a prohibited organization", "establishing a secret society", "defaming the public administration" and other destructive actions when in fact they were engaged in peaceful civil actions,
1. Is concerned about the undemocratic and unfair extensive limitations on the right to freedom of opinion, expression and association in Syria which have gone beyond permissible limits,
2. Calls on the Syrian authorities to drop immediately all charges against prisoners of conscience who are being charged for engaging in peaceful civil activities;
3. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including Hasan Zeino, Yassin al-Hamwi, Haytham al-Hamwi, Muhammad 'Ali al-'Abdullah and many other who are in detention for exercising their political rights;
4. Asks the Syrian Government to implement international standards with regard to the treatment of prisoners and prison conditions, such as the UN Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Body of Principles for the Protection of all Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment;
5. Repeatedly calls on the Syrian authorities to ensure that detainees are well treated and not subjected to torture and/or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and that they are given prompt, unrestricted access to their families, lawyers and doctors and they can receive an appropriate medical help (aid);
6. Stresses that the Syrian authorities should take firm measures to stop the use of incommunicado detention;
7. Welcomes the fact that over 200 political prisoners were released in 2004 but is still deeply concerned about reports that hundreds of people have been arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned since 2004 for political reasons;
8. Urges the Syrian authorities to step up their efforts to ensure respect for the elementary rights of an independent civil society;
9. Stresses the political importance of Syria's role in achieving peace, prosperity and stability in the Mediterranean and the objectives set out in the Barcelona Declaration;
10. Calls on its Delegation for relations with the Mashreq Countries and Gulf States to repeatedly address the issue of fundamental and political rights in Syria at its next meeting with Syrian parliamentarians;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Syrian Government and Parliament.