I found that this link worked best
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/speeches.do
Find the entry for debate on the Resolution for Rafah from 16.11 until 16.26 on 27th Oct. Click the plus sign on the left, get the drop down list of speakers. You can click on the camera icon on the right hand side, and watch a recording of the debate and hear a simulatenous translation, which may be more easy to understand than the written text that I have posted in the previous entry.
It only takes 15 minutes - please do take this chance.
Friday, 28 October 2011
EP adopt resolution on Rafah Nached with clear majority
The vote at yesterday's European Parliament debate on the resolution (see previous post) re Rafah Nached was adopted. 65 voted, 63 in favour, 2 abstentions.
Google translations of the first of yesterday's EP debate
Here is a GOOGLE TRANSLATION - please BEWARE some parts of this automatic translation are quite wobbly - of some of the speakers during yesterday's resolution debate at the European Parliament.
I urge that Mrs. Rafah Nached is released. There are voices all over for her release, you know. Catherine Ashton made a statement about it, even Carla Sarkozy wrote about it. Well, we also say today that the Syrian government that is enough.
Michal Tomasz Kaminski, on behalf of the ECR. - The case of Rafah Nached is a matter which outrages all of us in this chamber. I am glad that no matter which side of the Chamber members speak from, the voice is in fact unanimous. All we demand is the release of this brave woman. But this issue, about which we speak today, does not apply to this one, though very astonishing event. This is a problem that affects democracy in Syria.
I think that what we experienced as observers of the Arab spring, asks us to formulate in this House the supposition that before our eyes is played a very important act in the history of the world. For behold, we learn that those who said that democracy and freedom are predestined to some civilizations, some religions, some cultural circles, while others have not developed into democracy: they were wrong. Today, our Arab brothers are paying with blood for the fact that demand freedom. It's a great sign that freedom is for all and democracy for all .
President. - The next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the case of Rafah Nached in Syria.
Adam Bielan, the author. - While the subsequent fall of the dictatorship in the Arab regime of Bashar al-Assad still refers to a policy of terror and repression against its own population, discriminating against human rights. The case of Mrs. Rafah Nached, considered the world's first psychoanalyst Syrian, shows clearly the loss of legitimacy of the regime and the lack of any idea of coexistence with society. The freedom movement in Syria is growing and the current leader is already fully aware of the approaching end of his dictatorial rule.
Arbitrary detention of Rafah Nached resembles a violation of all norms of civilization in the field of human rights. The allegation of efforts to destabilize the country the person organizing workshops for victim support services reporting criminal activity to the authorities is extremely absurd, and even borders on paranoia. I therefore appeal to Syrian authorities to immediately release the Rafah Nached and stop the persecution of citizens for humanitarian relief.
I also appeal for the release of political prisoners and journalists. Rafah is a Nached actively engaged in the dialogue between the Syrians. So I hope to continue such activities on the basis of its achievements.
Arbitrary detention of Rafah Nached resembles a violation of all norms of civilization in the field of human rights. The allegation of efforts to destabilize the country the person organizing workshops for victim support services reporting criminal activity to the authorities is extremely absurd, and even borders on paranoia. I therefore appeal to Syrian authorities to immediately release the Rafah Nached and stop the persecution of citizens for humanitarian relief.
I also appeal for the release of political prisoners and journalists. Rafah is a Nached actively engaged in the dialogue between the Syrians. So I hope to continue such activities on the basis of its achievements.
George Maštálka, Author. - Mr. Chairman, I am clearly in favor of Rafah Nached’s release from prison. I assume that she was innocent, although I do not know why I should - after so many experiences - not to believe media campaigns.
Principle, but I refuse to abuse of the European Parliament to support additional unnecessary and cruel wars. If we go on the assumption that war is armed conflict with more than a thousand deaths per year, then in Syria is already under way civil war. The state is fighting with the rebels, who have support from abroad. The Brussels is again built on one of the warring parties. And we humbly re-publish this way, without knowing exactly who the rebel side is sometimes inappropriate. Our wholehearted support of Mrs. Rafah Nached blind can also be engaging in a campaign to promote hatred.
I believe that the role of the European Union is brokering peace. Let's at least not now vote on the exemption Nachedové Rafah, but also for peace.
Principle, but I refuse to abuse of the European Parliament to support additional unnecessary and cruel wars. If we go on the assumption that war is armed conflict with more than a thousand deaths per year, then in Syria is already under way civil war. The state is fighting with the rebels, who have support from abroad. The Brussels is again built on one of the warring parties. And we humbly re-publish this way, without knowing exactly who the rebel side is sometimes inappropriate. Our wholehearted support of Mrs. Rafah Nached blind can also be engaging in a campaign to promote hatred.
I believe that the role of the European Union is brokering peace. Let's at least not now vote on the exemption Nachedové Rafah, but also for peace.
Rui Tavares, Author. - Mr President, firstly, I would welcome the presence of visitors in this House who are of Syrian civil society activists and friends of this cause of Rafah Nached and who are here to watch this debate. The most important things when we have these debates about human rights, the House is full or empty, you know they do have effect. Often despair because we are talking about causes that are outside the European Union, but often found people who were released after the debate and / or felt less alone to know that their cause was championed in a forum outside their countries. And many of us come from countries that also had dictatorships, we know that the most important thing is not to abandon tough, people do not give the opposition.
In this case, we are talking about a Syrian psychoanalyst, who was leaving Syria to go to France, where where her daughter is about to give birth in those days, and was stuck with spurious accusations by the Syrian authorities. Still, from the prison, writes that there (and while the French language) Je découvrir maintenant une part caché de la société dans la vie et je laquelle dont je suis responsable. I think these words are admirable Nached Rafah, the way she, even in prison, feels co-responsible for their society. The one where there are now 4,000 dead during the Spring Arabic in Syria, 7,000 missing, 22,000 arrested, 6,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon, 10 000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, 7,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan.
I think it's very important that the EU establish, requires a commission of inquiry to know what's going on with human rights activists in Syria. It was said many times here about double standards, I believe we must have the same honesty when talking about the case in Syria, as in Bahrain, as in Libya. That's what we try to do this Parliament. It is this line that we follow and we should ask the Ashton and the Commission represented here by Ms. Kroes.
In this case, we are talking about a Syrian psychoanalyst, who was leaving Syria to go to France, where where her daughter is about to give birth in those days, and was stuck with spurious accusations by the Syrian authorities. Still, from the prison, writes that there (and while the French language) Je découvrir maintenant une part caché de la société dans la vie et je laquelle dont je suis responsable. I think these words are admirable Nached Rafah, the way she, even in prison, feels co-responsible for their society. The one where there are now 4,000 dead during the Spring Arabic in Syria, 7,000 missing, 22,000 arrested, 6,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon, 10 000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, 7,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan.
I think it's very important that the EU establish, requires a commission of inquiry to know what's going on with human rights activists in Syria. It was said many times here about double standards, I believe we must have the same honesty when talking about the case in Syria, as in Bahrain, as in Libya. That's what we try to do this Parliament. It is this line that we follow and we should ask the Ashton and the Commission represented here by Ms. Kroes.
Véronique De Keyser, author. - Mr President, this morning we had a highly political resolution on Syria, or rather on Syria and Egypt. And if we want, this afternoon, to have a separate resolution on Rafah Nached it is because, really, it is anything but a political issue. This is an issue that touches on human rights. Rafah Nached is, as we noted, a prominent psychoanalyst who studied in Paris, who is in a very precarious state of health - she is 66, she is recovering from cancer, she suffers from a heart condition – and she is imprisoned with fifteen other prisoners and, especially, she did nothing. It is an example when some prominent citizens - journalists, actors, tribal leaders - that the Syrian government arbitrarily attack to show that nobody is safe from this arbitrariness.
It is for humanitarian reasons we ask today not only the Syrian government, upon which we must say, we have very little influence, but also to all who approach: our Chinese friends, who we mentioned earlier, the Arab League, who met with Bashar al-Assad, to all those with whom the EU relations, to ensure that these completely innocent people are released and also that all those who are active today to help them - aid agencies, etc.. - could at least do humanitarian work.
It is for humanitarian reasons we ask today not only the Syrian government, upon which we must say, we have very little influence, but also to all who approach: our Chinese friends, who we mentioned earlier, the Arab League, who met with Bashar al-Assad, to all those with whom the EU relations, to ensure that these completely innocent people are released and also that all those who are active today to help them - aid agencies, etc.. - could at least do humanitarian work.
I urge that Mrs. Rafah Nached is released. There are voices all over for her release, you know. Catherine Ashton made a statement about it, even Carla Sarkozy wrote about it. Well, we also say today that the Syrian government that is enough.
Marietje Schaake, author. - Mr President, Rafah Nached gives a face to the people behind the numbers, reflecting the cost of the unspeakable violence and injustice in Syria.
We are all eyewitnesses to what is happening. On the Internet we can see the disproportionate, government‑led violence against unarmed citizens. We can see the brave demonstrators defying fear and risking their lives to get stories out. Holding a cell phone can be a reason to be shot by a sniper. Women are being raped and children tortured and mutilated. Parents who receive the bodies of their murdered children hide them and bury them in secret because the government also attacks funerals. I am speechless and furious at the same time.
Bashar al-Assad’s government and his collaborators have no legitimacy whatsoever. The international community lacks a UN mandate because China and Russia object to a UN Security Council resolution, but the EU can, and must, do more. Firstly, we must call for an international criminal court investigation into the crimes committed and, secondly, we must demand targeted sanctions for those who violate human rights.
We are Syria’s most important trading partner and therefore we need to apply targeted sanctions to the economic elites and give them a clear choice: doing business with Europe means doing no business with Bashar al-Assad. We must also make sure that EU‑made ICT products that censor and spy on Syrians do not end up in the hands of the repressors, because that is continuing to happen. We must continue, with Turkey, to end the unspeakable violence in Syria.
[there are two speakers in this interim for whom no transcript is yet available]
Joanna Senyszyn, on behalf of S & D. - Mr. President! On 10 September in Damascus Rafah Nached was unlawfully arrested, she ran a psychoanalytic clinic in Damascus for 26 years. Recently she helped people actively [articulate their trauma] in Syria. Petitions on her release has been signed by 9,000 people. Confinement of Dr Nached is a fundamental violation of human rights. Our moral obligation is to ask Parliament to call for her immediate release. We demand that the Syrian authorities guarantee that doctors, volunteers, human rights defenders are able to carry out their work without fear, repression and sanctions from the authorities.
According to the Treaty of Lisbon promoting, protection and security of human rights defenders must be given priority in the European Union's relations with third countries and included in the foreign policy of the Union. We must clearly define and apply severe sanctions against third countries committing serious human rights violations.
According to the Treaty of Lisbon promoting, protection and security of human rights defenders must be given priority in the European Union's relations with third countries and included in the foreign policy of the Union. We must clearly define and apply severe sanctions against third countries committing serious human rights violations.
[there is one speaker in this interim for whom no transcript is yet available]
I think that what we experienced as observers of the Arab spring, asks us to formulate in this House the supposition that before our eyes is played a very important act in the history of the world. For behold, we learn that those who said that democracy and freedom are predestined to some civilizations, some religions, some cultural circles, while others have not developed into democracy: they were wrong. Today, our Arab brothers are paying with blood for the fact that demand freedom. It's a great sign that freedom is for all and democracy for all .
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Today's debate in the European Parliament - resolution for Rafah
Today's debate in the European Parliament will be shown live (15:00-16:00 GMT+1) and can also be viewed tomorrow.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/speeches.do
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/speeches.do
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
European Parliament resolution on the case of Rafah Nached in Syria
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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
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2009 - 2014
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Plenary sitting
<Date>{25/10/2011}25.10.2011</Date> <NoDocSe>B7‑0568/2011</NoDocSe>
<TitreType>MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION</TitreType>
<TitreSuite>with request for inclusion in the
agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the
rule of law</TitreSuite>
<TitreRecueil>pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules
of Procedure</TitreRecueil>
<Titre>on the case of Rafah Nached in Syria</Titre>
<RepeatBlock-By><Depute>Véronique
De Keyser</Depute>
<Commission>{S&D}on behalf of the S&D Group</Commission>
</RepeatBlock-By>
B7‑0568/2011
- having regard to the statements by the spokesperson
Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative on 30 August on the worsening of
the human rights situation in Syria and the situation of Rafah Nashed in Syria
of 23 September 2011,
- having regard to the statement of the Vice-President of
the European Parliament Libor Roucek in the plenary session of 29 September
calling for the release of Rafah Nashed,
- having regard to the Council's conclusions on 10 October
2011 and the sanctions on 13 October 2011,
- having regard to its resolutions on the situation in
Syria, Bahrain and Yemen from 7 April and from 7 July 2011,
- having regard to its resolution on the situation in Syria
from 15 September 2011,
A. whereas a Paris-educated Syrian psychoanalyst Rafah
Nashed, was arrested on 10 September at the Damascus airport; 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 Rafah Nashed is 66 years old and her health
condition is precarious as she has a heart disease; whereas her health is deteriorating
in prison aggravating her heart disease;
C. whereas on the time of arresting she was boarding a plane
to Paris where her daughter was about to give birth;
D. whereas she had no political connections and her ambition has
been only humanitarian and scientific; whereas a petition has been
signed for her immediate and unconditional release;
1. Calls on the Syrian authorities for the immediate and
unconditional release of Rafah Nashed for humanitarian reasons;
2. Strongly condemns the escalating use of force of
the Syrian regime against peaceful protesters and the brutal and systematic
persecution of pro-democracy activists, human rights defenders and journalists;
3. Calls for an
immediate end to violent crackdowns against peaceful demonstrators and
harassment of their families, the release of all detained protesters, political
prisoners, human rights defenders and journalists;
4. Calls for on an immediate,
genuine and inclusive political process in Syria with the participation of all
democratic political actors and civil society organisations for a peaceful and
lasting transition in Syria towards a humanitarian society;
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.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Live coverage of European Parliament Debate - links
Thursday's debate (3pm, 27th Oct) will be broadcast live on the website of Séance En Direct
Letter from UKCP Chair, Prof Andrew Samuels, to MEPs for Rafah debate
This has been sent on behalf of UKCP to all the MEPs in the country in good time for the debate in the European Parliament on Thursday. It will be on the UKCP website today, Tues 25th Oct:
A Syrian psychoanalyst, Rafah Nached, has been imprisoned by the authorities since early September, apparently for conducting a seminar on fear. Psychoanalysts worldwide have protested at the abuse of human rights on the part of the Syrian government that this represents. There follows UKCP's letter to all the MEPs in the country, sent on October 25th 2011 in time for the debate on the matter in the European Parliament on October 27th 2011.
I write as the Chair of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) concerning the incarceration by the Syrian authorities, on utterly spurious grounds, of the psychoanalyst Rafah Nached.
UKCP's 7,000 members include 1,500 psychoanalysts, but all of us are appalled that Rafah Nached has been imprisoned for doing no more than performing her academic and clinical functions. It is a gross abuse of human rights and we agree with the call for as stringent action as possible in connection with this matter.
There is an extra dimension to this scandal. Psychoanalysis, in common with all the psychotherapies, is critically concerned with freedom of mind. Beginning at the heart of Europe at the end of the nineteenth century, the insights and approaches of psychoanalysis have spread to many areas of the world. But the heritage is European and the discipline is one of the great creations of European culture. It therefore behoves the European Parliament to take the matter as seriously as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Andrew Samuels
Chair, United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
A Syrian psychoanalyst, Rafah Nached, has been imprisoned by the authorities since early September, apparently for conducting a seminar on fear. Psychoanalysts worldwide have protested at the abuse of human rights on the part of the Syrian government that this represents. There follows UKCP's letter to all the MEPs in the country, sent on October 25th 2011 in time for the debate on the matter in the European Parliament on October 27th 2011.
I write as the Chair of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) concerning the incarceration by the Syrian authorities, on utterly spurious grounds, of the psychoanalyst Rafah Nached.
UKCP's 7,000 members include 1,500 psychoanalysts, but all of us are appalled that Rafah Nached has been imprisoned for doing no more than performing her academic and clinical functions. It is a gross abuse of human rights and we agree with the call for as stringent action as possible in connection with this matter.
There is an extra dimension to this scandal. Psychoanalysis, in common with all the psychotherapies, is critically concerned with freedom of mind. Beginning at the heart of Europe at the end of the nineteenth century, the insights and approaches of psychoanalysis have spread to many areas of the world. But the heritage is European and the discipline is one of the great creations of European culture. It therefore behoves the European Parliament to take the matter as seriously as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Andrew Samuels
Chair, United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
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