MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

22.5.2007

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Véronique De Keyser
on behalf of the PSE Group
on Human Rights in Syria

B6‑0212/2007

European Parliament resolution on Human rights in Syria

The European Parliament,

-   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,.

-   having regard to Article 11 (1) of the Treaty of the European Union and Article 177 of the

   EC Treaty which establishes the promotion of human rights as an objective of the common Foreign and security policy,

-   having regard to the previous resolutions on Syria and the Middle East,

-   having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the European Parliament and its President have already intervened several times in favour of the release of human rights activists, politicians and parliamentarians detained in Syrian prisons,

B.  whereas the respect of human rights is an essential element of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, manifested in a Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Syria and an Association Agreement still to be finalised,

C.  whereas Michel Kilo, militant pro-democratic writer, who was arrested on 14 May 2006, mainly for his position on the Beirut-Damascus Declaration and Mahmoud Issa have been sentenced on 13 May 2007 to a three-year prison term,

D.  whereas Faek El Mir and Aref Dalila, members of various human rights organisations in Syria, are now detained in solitary confinement for 6 years,

E.  whereas Syrian Security Forces arrested Kamal al - Labwani, a physician and co-founder of the Democratic Liberal Gathering, on 8 November upon his return from a trip to Egypt and the United States, and have now sentenced him to 12 years in prison including hard labour on politically motivated charges,

F.  whereas Anwar Al Bunni, a founding member of the Syrian Human Rights Organisation and a lawyer specialising in human rights issues, was arrested on the streets of Damascus when he was on the verge of taking up a post as Director of a Human Rights Centre financed by the European Union in 2006 and is now sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment for "spreading false information harmful to the state",

1.  Expresses its great concern over recent verdicts for political prisoners in Syria which affect the opposition's every political trend;

2.  Is deeply concerned by the restrictions imposed on and the charges made against Mahmoud Issa, Fayek El Mir, Aref Dalila, Kamal al Labwani, Anwar Al Bunni and Michel Kilo for exercising their democratic rights and facing trials for their peaceful activities;

3.  Calls on the Syrian Authorities to ratify the Convention against torture and other inhuman treatment, and also to ensure that the detained or imprisoned persons are given prompt and regular access to lawyers, doctors and their families;

4.  Urges the relevant Syrian bodies to reverse the judgments, drop the charges still pending in the Military Court of Damascus and release all the above-mentioned prisoners of conscience and political prisoners;

5.  Is confident that Syria, who could play an important role of pacification in the region, will improve and support human rights and freedom of expression in the country;

6.  Expects Syria to utilise its privileged relations with Lebanon to support the setting up of a penal tribunal with an international character after the Judge Brammertz enquiry in Lebanon;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Syrian Government and the Syrian Parliament.