WRITTEN QUESTION P-2376/03 by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Al Sahri deported by Italy and executed in Syria.
Date: 2003-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Italy, Syria, death penalty, political refugee, removal, right of asylum

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/729

(2004/C 84 E/0820)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2033/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Re-opening of Greek secondary school at Rizokarpasso

(18 June 2003)

The Greek secondary school at Rizokarpasso has been closed since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in
1974. Since that time, children of families living in the enclave who finish their primary education in the
area and wish to go on to secondary school are forced to move to the non-occupied areas of the island.
The outcome of this situation is that families are moving from their homes and the Greek population of
the area is dwindling.

1. What steps will the Commission take to bring about the re-opening of the secondary school at
Rizokarpasso given the fresh measures recently announced to bring Turkish Cypriots closer to the EU and
the rapprochement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities?

How can the Commission contribute towards securing the rights to education of the children of the

2.
enclave, which the Turkish Cypriot side guaranteed when it signed the Vienna III Agreement?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1983/03 and E-2033/03
given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

In general, responsibilities in the field of education policies remain with the Member States. The
competencies of the Community are limited.

Concerning the re-opening of the secondary school in Rizokarpaso, the Commission has taken note of the
remarks of both of the Honourable Members.

Regarding the Commission’s contribution towards securing the right to education of the children of
Rizokarpaso,
the Commission would like to refer to its Communication on promoting economic
development of the northern part of Cyprus and bringing it closer to the Union (1). The Commission is
proposing various measures bringing the northern part closer to the Union, ‘inter alia’, encouraging the
participation in community programmes such as the Comenius programme for schools. The Commission
is working on finding ways to implement these measures in consultation with the Government of Cyprus.

(1) COM(2003) 325 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0821)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2376/03

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Al Sahri deported by Italy and executed in Syria

(16 July 2003)

On 23 November 2002 Mohamad Al Sahri, sentenced to death by the Syrian judiciary and in exile since
1983, arrived at the Milan airport of Malpensa and five days later the new Bossi-Fini law was carried out
and he was deported to Syria against his will. On 9 July 2003 Christopher Hein, chairman of the Italian
council for refugees, announced that Mr Al Shari had been executed in Syria on 28 February 2003.
Defying credibility, Italian immigration authorities have stated that Mr Al Sahri, asked to choose between
Jordan and Syria for his deportation, indicated his preference for the latter where he had been sentenced to
death.

C 84 E/730

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Does the Commission believe that the Italian government violated in this case not only its own national
Constitution, but Article 19 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the spirit and the letter of all the
directives followed by the EU on political asylum and against deporting foreign citizens to countries where
they might be put to death?

What measures does the Commission intend to take against the Italian authorities for such a blatant
violation of human rights and of the most basic legal and humanitarian principles of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2003)

In accordance with Article 19(2) of the Charter of Human Rights of the European Union, ‘No one may be
removed, expelled or extradited to a State where there is a serious risk that he or she would be subjected
to the death penalty, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.’ This is one of the
principles that are common to the Member States and that the Commission must respect in accordance
with Article 6(1) of the Treaty on the European Union.

The Commission would recall its answer of 29 January 2003 to Questions P-3821/02 by Mrs Paciotti and
P-3826/02 by Mr Di Lello Finuoli (1) concerning this case and the absence at this stage of powers to
intervene in the examination of any infringement of Article 19 of the Charter, the reason being that no
Community provisions exist on asylum procedures and on determination of the need for international
protection and the relevant statutes. The draft directives on these two matters are still being examined
within the Council.

The Commission would also recall that interested parties may bring a case before the European Court of
Human Rights in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Court’s Rules if they consider that
provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights have not been complied with.

(1) See page 707.

(2004/C 84 E/0822)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2748/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 September 2003)

Subject: Rizokarpasso primary school

In my previous question (E-2033/03 (1)), I asked the Commission to do everything within its power, in the
context of the rapprochement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities,
to secure the
re-opening of the secondary school at Rizokarpasso in occupied Cyprus. Unfortunately, however, not only
has the secondary school failed to re-open but the Denktash regime appears also to have decided to close
the primary school in the area. Since requiring the two teachers to leave Rizokarpasso within two hours,
the authorities have as yet failed to approve the transfer of the two new teachers who, according to
instructions from the Education Ministry, should have taken up their duties on 1 September.

The inevitable result of this particular practice will be to stifle all cultural and educational opportunities for
the population of the enclave. Without teachers, the school will close. The children will either be forced to
stay in their villages deprived of the fundamental right to education or they will abandon their homes to
become refugees.

At practically the same time, the regime announced via its police authorities that it was banning pilgrims
from entering the Holy Church of St Synesios at Rizokarpasso, one of several visited by many pilgrims
since the partial lifting of travel restrictions.