MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Rafah Nached in Syria
25.10.2011
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Robert Rochefort, Marietje Schaake, Kristiina Ojuland, Frédérique Ries, Marielle De Sarnez, Sonia Alfano, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Ivo Vajgl, Edward McMillan-Scott, Alexandra Thein, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0565/2011
B7‑0569/2011
European Parliament resolution on the case of Rafah Nached in Syria
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria in particular that of 17 September 2010 on Syria: the case of Muhannad al-Hassani, that of 9 September 2010 on on human rights in Syria, in particular the case of Haythan Al-Maleh that of 7 July 2011 on the situation in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain in the context of the situation in the Arab world and North Africa, and that of 15 September on the situation in Syria,
– 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 party,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,
– having regard to Council Decision 2011/522/CFSP on amending Decision 2011/273/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria, Council Decision 2011/523/EU on partially suspending the application of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Syrian Arab Republic, and Council Regulation 878/2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria of 2 September 2011,
– having regard the EP call for the release of Rafah Nached on 29 September 2011,
– having regard to the statements by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton on the situation in Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain at the European Parliament on 12 October and the statement by the spokesperson of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton on the situation of Rafah Nached in Syria,
– having regard to the statements of the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on Syria of 8 and 31 July; 1, 4, 18, 19, 23 and 30 August; 2, 23 September 2011; and 8 October,
– having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on Syria on 10 October; having regard to the European Council Conclusions on Syria on 23 October 2011,
– having regard to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 1975, to which Syria is a party,
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders of 2004 as updated in 2008,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966, to which Syria is a party,
– having regard to the UNHRC Resolution on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic of 23 August 2011,
– having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Syria's first practicing female psychoanalyst and founder of the Damascus School of Psychoanalysis Rafah Nached was detained in Damascus airport by the Syrian secret services as she was preparing to board a flight to Paris from Damascus on 10 September 2011,
B. whereas Rafah Nached recovered from cancer, heart trouble and high blood pressure making her health conditions precarious; whereas according to her husband that visits her twice per week in the women's prison in a Damascus' suburb, her health status is satisfactory, notwithstanding her heart condition,
C. 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 month, raise fear of a lengthy detention, aimed at intimidating the Syrian intellectual community,
D. whereas Rafah Nached has always put her professional and human skills to the service of Syria to which she is profoundly committed, and whereas her trajectory is not that of an opponent to the regime,
E. whereas when in March 2011 the revolution exploded in Syria, together with Jesuits from Damascus, she organised some groups open to citizens of all persuasions, an apolitical space, in which to verbalise the anxiety produced by the violence that is ravaging the country, in which to maintain inter-communitarian dialogue,
F. whereas in few hours a huge international mobilisation was put in place demanding her immediate release,
1. Expresses its deepest concern about the situation of the renowned Syrian psychoanalyst Rafah Nached as her arrest is even more unacceptable given her precarious health conditions;
2. Calls on Syrian authorities to immediately release Rafah Nached, render her to her family without waiting further, as well as all those arbitrarily detained and arrested;
3. Recalls for an immediate end to repression and violence against the Syrian people and peaceful protesters;
4. 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 Government and Parliament of the Syrian Arab Republic;