WRITTEN QUESTION E-1312/03 by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission. The situation of Mrs Siham Qandah, a Jordanian Christian.
Date: 2003-04-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Islamic law, Jordan, association agreement (EU), custody, freedom of religious beliefs, religious discrimination, religious group

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/23

including, on occasion,

Finally, does the Commission accept that continuing reports of failure to allow prisoners access to proper
medical care,
form of
humanitarian human rights abuse in Cuba today and, if so, has the Commission indicated the importance
attached by many within the European Union across the political spectrum of the need to respect the
fundamental rights of prisoners? Has the Commission indicated that improvements in our relationship
with Cuba, including Membership of Cotonou, are dependent upon greater respect for human rights and,
in particular, on the treatment of prisoners?

life-saving treatment, constitute the most serious

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1295/03, E-1311/03 and E-1347/03
given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The respect of human rights in Cuba remains a cause of serious concern for the Union and the
Commission is following this matter very closely.

The Commission has repeatedly drawn the attention of the Cuban authorities to the human rights situation
in general and arbitrary detentions, intimidation of political opponents and imprisonment on political
grounds in particular.

The Commission is closely following the matter of the recent detention and sentencing of 75 dissidents
and independent journalists in Cuba, including Dr Oscar Elias Biscet González, Raul Rivero, Marta Beatriz
Roque, Hector Palácios and Oscar Espinosa Chepe particularly through our Delegation in Havana.

These latest developments mark a further deterioration in the human rights situation, which cannot but
seriously affect the Union’s relations with Cuba.

The Commission, together with the Member States, has strongly condemned such arrests in a declaration
published on 26 March 2003, which was followed by a Union démarche in Havana to urge the Cuban
authorities to allow the prisoners’ immediate release. Furthermore, various bilateral démarches vis-à-vis
Cuban Ambassadors have been undertaken over the past few days in European capitals.

Another Union statement was published on 14 April 2003, condemning once again the large-scale arrest
of dissidents, the unfair trials and the arbitrary and excessive sentences imposed. It also calls for the
immediate release of all political prisoners. It will be followed by a new Union démarche in Havana.

Through these actions, the Cuban authorities have been made aware that detentions on political grounds
are not acceptable and that the Union urges the release of prisoners held due to their opinions or political
activities. In this context, we will certainly bring the cases of Dr Biscet, Ms Roque and Messrs Rivero,
Palácios and Chepe to the attention of the Cuban authorities, and will follow this matter closely, exerting
continued political pressure on the Cuban authorities.

(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

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.

C 88 E/24

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Has the Commission:

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?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(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.

(2004/C 88 E/0026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1334/03

by Luigi Cocilovo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 April 2003)

Subject: VAT on books

The Commission may know that bookshops selling Italian books abroad have to pay double VAT: Italian
VAT (4 %), included in the cover price, and VAT in the country where the book is sold (for example 3 % in
Luxembourg, or 6 % in Belgium).

Is this situation compatible with Community law, which regulation or directive regulates this specific field
and can it be invoked in order to avoid VAT being paid twice?

Does the Commission not consider that all obstacles of whatever kind that discourage people from reading
should be eliminated?