# CE2004088EN.01002301.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/23 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/23

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(2004/C 88 E/0025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1312/03

by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 April 2003)

Subject:   The situation of Mrs Siham Qandah, a Jordanian Christian

Subject:

The Commission may be aware of the situation of Mrs Siham Qandah, a Jordanian Christian whose husband died in 1994 whilst serving in the Jordanian Army. After his death the Jordanian authorities claimed that he had converted to Islam and have subsequently confiscated his children to ensure that they are raised as Muslims.

Has the Commission:

| 1. | Made representations to the Jordanian Government about the situation of Mrs Siham Qandah? |
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1.

Made representations to the Jordanian Government about the situation of Mrs Siham Qandah?

| 2. | Other plans, to try to ensure that the Jordanian authorities respect the human rights of the Christian minority in their country? |
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2.

Other plans, to try to ensure that the Jordanian authorities respect the human rights of the Christian minority in their country?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

(15 May 2003)

Mrs Qandah's situation is related to the wider problem of compatibility of the application of the Shari'ah law and the international human rights conventions that Jordan has signed, but not yet fully transformed into internal law. It is our concern that the application of Shari'ah law in Jordan, a country where Islam is the state religion, could provoke great distress in families whose members are of mixed Christian and Muslim faith and lead to results which are incompatible with these conventions.

The Commission is closely monitoring the individual case of Mrs Siham Qandah. The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that the question of the defence of human rights and in particular of those of women and children is considered of prime importance by the Commission and has been raised with the Jordanian authorities on many occasions. It will continue to stress its importance in its future contacts.

Jordan is a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. During his recent visit to Jordan, the Member of the Commission in charge of external relations raised the need for Jordan to implement effectively its commitments to international human rights agreements, especially those reinforcing the rights of women and children. Since then the Jordanian Government has set up the Centre for the Protection of Human Rights to channel complaints on human rights abuses cases, an initiative that has been supported by the Community. The Commission lays great importance on the work of this centre which should become a flagship institution for the protection of human rights in Jordan.

In the framework of the Union-Jordan Association Agreement, which entered into force on 1 May 2002, the Union and Jordan are establishing a continuous political dialogue at the highest level. This includes issues relating to human rights as well as monitoring the application of international conventions adopted by either party.

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