WRITTEN QUESTION E-3216/00 by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council. Maryam Arubi sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iran, cruel and degrading treatment, death penalty, human rights, right to justice, the EU's international role

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/207

The Nice European Council will receive a report from the Presidency on the work carried out within
6.
the Council on the whole issue of crisis management, including relations with the United Nations in this
area. On the question of the framework and detailed arrangements for the dialogue between the two
organisations on crisis management and conflict prevention, the Council is not yet in a position to reply at
the present stage of discussions both within the EU and with the United Nations and of work on the
reorganisation of these activities within the framework of the United Nations (along the lines indicated in
the Brahimi report).

(2001/C 136 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3216/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Maryam Arubi sentenced to death by stoning for adultery

Is the Council aware that Maryam Arubi (30), found guilty of adultery, was sentenced to death by stoning
under the Iranian penal code based on the Islamic sharia? Could EU representatives and representations
abroad take this serious human rights situation in Iran into account when the forthcoming UN resolutions
are being prepared and adopted, including those being drawn up at this moment for the Millennium
Summit?

Reply

(20/21 December 2000)

The Council was not aware of the case referred to by the Honourable Member.

Abolition of the death penalty in all countries is a principle which is stoutly defended by all the Member
States of the European Union. Moreover, the Council would point out that stoning is prohibited under the
Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. Executions by
stoning are now rare in Iran, but unfortunately they do still take place.

The European Union has made its position clear to the Iranian authorities at meetings which have taken
place in the framework of the political dialogue and has urged that steps be taken to abolish the death
penalty. The European Union has asked Iran, as a first step, to declare a moratorium on executions, with a
view to eventual total abolition, and to step up the progress being made on human rights.

Over the last few years the European Union has taken initiatives within the UNO to secure the adoption of
including the death penalty. The European Union has therefore
resolutions on human rights in Iran,
decided to submit a proposal for a resolution to the current session of the General Assembly.

(2001/C 136 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3217/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Violation of safety rules by Macedonian Airlines in Greece

(12 October 2000)

The Greek Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a decision on 3 February 2000 (YPA/D2/G/5238/1387)
ordering checks on the technical operation and maintenance of Macedonian Airlines A.E.
(MA A.E.),
a subsidiary of Olympic Airways A.E.
(OA A.E.). The check revealed serious violations, sufficient (cid:129)
according to the report (cid:129) to warrant the suspension of MA A.E.(cid:146)s air operator(cid:146)s certificate.