WRITTEN QUESTION E-1514/03 by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Marked increase in anti-Semitic outrages in the EU in 2002.
Date: 2003-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, anti-discriminatory measure, antisemitism, competence of the Member States, contemporary history, crime against humanity, public awareness campaign, teaching, world history

C 51 E/102

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The EU monitors closely the case of Amina Lawal on the basis of its declaration of 21 August 2002 in
which it expressed its deep concern about the decision of the court of appeal dismissing the appeal lodged
by Amina Lawal.

The Council, following the advice of Amina Lawal’s defence lawyers that supportive actions should be
taken in a discreet and confidential manner, considers that it is not advisable or appropriate to interfere in
Amina Lawal’s case as long as the case is sub judice. At this stage it seems to be more supportive to follow
a general approach, i.e. not to individualise the case. In the context of the political dialogue with Nigeria at
different levels, in particular through Heads of Mission in Abuja, the EU has reiterated its position on the
death penalty and encouraged the Government of Nigeria to continue working towards the abolition of the
death penalty and the prevention of all forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
With regard to this particular sentence the EU is stressing the need for Nigeria to guarantee that the
constitution remains the supreme law in the country, given the constitutional problems arising from the
application of the sharia in certain states.

The Council continues urging the Nigerian authorities to fully respect human rights and human dignity
with particular reference to women (1).

(1) Nigeria has ratified the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women without
that Parties to the Convention on
reservations. The EU has therefore reminded the Nigerian Government
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women condemn discrimination against women in all its forms,
and agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against
women.

(2004/C 51 E/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1514/03

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Marked increase in anti-Semitic outrages in the EU in 2002

With regard to various studies (including by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia
(EUMC)), the Council’s attention is drawn to the dramatic increase in anti-Semitic outrages in the EU
Member States last year (peaking between the end of March and mid-May 2002). The research studies into
what has caused this development point in no uncertain terms to, inter alia, the link between radicalisation
of the Middle East conflict (in particular the current criticism, involving anti-Semitic stereotypes, of Israeli
Government policy) and the ‘new wave of anti-Semitism’.

The various studies point to two significant aspects:

(cid:1) that what is dangerous is not necessarily how many anti-Semitic incidents there are, but, rather, how

serious the actions are;

(cid:1) that although some of those responsible for anti-Semitic outrages are right-wing extremists, many
more are to be found among radical Islamists or young Muslims, though the latter are themselves
victims of discrimination and racist violence.

The fact that the political will to combat such waves of anti-Semitic outrages is usually short-lived and, in
the process, the need for a long-term approach to be developed and funded is ignored is also clearly
pointed up.

Can the Council say:

(cid:1) whether it is aware of these developments and what conclusions have been drawn to date?

(cid:1) whether action has been or is being taken to monitor/observe such anti-Semitic outrages more

effectively and combat and curb them, and, if so, what does that action involve?

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/103

(cid:1) whether action has been taken or is being taken to contribute to better understanding of Jewish
history, the various aspects of Judeo-Christian relations and the Holocaust, with particular regard for a
multicultural school-age audience, and, if so, what does that action involve?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council strongly condemns any anti-Semitic outrages and is concerned regarding the possible increase
of these outrages.

The EUMC is explicitly created to monitor racist or xenophobe incidents, which include anti-Semitic
incidents. No further observation mechanisms are planned.

Historical education of the population is not within the competence of the Council.

(2004/C 51 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1520/03

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL)
and Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Sacking of Iraq’s cultural and artistic heritage (cid:1) the role of the European Union

The sacking of the National Archaeological Museum in Baghdad and other museum buildings in Iraq as
well as the devastation of the country’s libraries and historical archives by vandals, but also and above all
by professional thieves clearly in the pay of Western antique dealers, began in Baghdad on the night of
10 April 2003 and after a pause started again on a vast scale in other cities and at archaeological sites in
Iraq between 14/15 April 2003.

As is reported in the British newspaper the Daily Telegraph (20 April 2003), many of the artefacts taken
(around 179 thousand in Baghdad alone) are already being offered for sale on various Internet sites. This is
a terrible tragedy for the whole of mankind and one compared by the leading US archaeologist Paul
Zimansky to the fire that destroyed the library in Alexandria.

1. Will the Council condemn these events as a flagrant violation, by the coalition forces on the ground
in Iraq, of the Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event
of Armed Conflict, and of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit
Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property?

2. What concrete support will the Council provide to the call issued on 17 April 2003 by Dr Koïchiro
Matsuura, the Director-General of Unesco, to the international community, the UN Security Council and
the governments of the states bordering Iraq for all states to adopt the requisite ‘emergency legal and
administrative measures’ to prevent the importation, trafficking or passage through their territory of any
cultural, archaeological or bibliographical object from Iraq, and to enforce the confiscation and restitution
of stolen artefacts to Iraq, not least through criminal penalties under the laws of individual countries?

3. Will the Council ask the EU Member States to prohibit the legal and illegal trade in any artefacts
originating from the area that was once Mesopotamia for a minimum period of at least 5 years?

4. Will the Council report to the European Parliament at its plenary sitting of 12 to 15 May 2003 on
the measures adopted to end this destruction?