The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria,

–   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

–    having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, which was ratified by Syria in 1969,

–    having regard to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 1984, which was ratified by Syria in 2004,

–   having regard to the statement by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, of 23 September 2011,

–   having regard to the statement by its President, of 29 September 2011,

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

A. whereas citizens of Syria are subjected to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment without trial, or trial by military court and have no independent judiciary to defend them, no freedom of speech and no right to demonstrate guaranteed by law,

B.  whereas the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Syrian Arab Republic, of the other part, is still to be signed and ratified; whereas Article 2 of this Agreement stipulates that respect for human rights and democratic principles guide the internal and international policy of the parties and constitute an essential element of the Agreement,

C. whereas despite many public statements committing to political reform, President Bashar al-Assad has failed to act to implement a specific agenda that would safeguard public freedoms and judicial independence and prohibit the Syrian government from encroaching on human rights,

D. whereas Rafah Nached was arbitrarily arrested and detained by Syrian authorities on 10 September 2011, and initially held in secrecy,

1.  Calls for the immediate release of Rafah Nached, and the release of all detained political prisoners, human rights defenders and journalists, who have been imprisoned arbitrarily without trial,

2.  Is particularly concerned by the situation of Rafah Nached, due to her fragile health, which has worsened during her detention;

3.  Calls upon the Syrian authorities to abide by international human rights standards as expressed in the Barcelona Declaration and other international instruments to which the Syrian Arab Republic is a State party;

4.  Calls on the Syrian authorities to guarantee in all circumstances that all doctors, humanitarian workers and human rights defenders in Syria are able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful work without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment;

5.  Calls on the Member States and the High Representative, together with the Commission, to continue efforts to support the movement towards democratic reform in Syria and to address immediately the human rights and humanitarian abuses of the present Syrian regime;

6.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Government and Parliament of the Syrian Arab Republic.