WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2888/97 by Glyn FORD to the Council. Death of Rev. Yusefi in Iran, September 1996
C 117/94 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 98 The Board of Heads of Administration has held an initial discussion with a view to developing a common approach for the European institutions. Discussion will continue in this forum. The question of age limits for recruitment will be discussed along with other matters in the context of the forthcoming entry into force of the new Article (Article 6a) inserted in the EC Treaty by the Amsterdam Treaty, prohibiting discrimination on various grounds, including age, and in the light of general practice in this field in the Member States. (1) OJ C 45, 10. 2. 1998, p. 63. (98/C 117/119) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2887/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council (16 September 1997) Subject: Religious persecution in Sudan Is the Council aware of the lack of tolerance shown by the Sudanese government towards non-Islamic religious groups within the country? What actin is the Council taking to pressure the Sudanese authorities into halting these abuses of human rights? Answer (26 Novembr 1997) The Council notes with regret that for several years now Sudan has not been respecting the United Nations Conventions on Human Rights, inter alia regarding religious freedom. This was moreover confirmed by Resolution 51/112 of the United Nations General Assembly of 5 March 1997. In its contacts with the Sudanese authorities, the European Union has always urged them to halt the intolerance and violence towards non-Islamic sectors of the population. In this context, the Union has frequently reaffirmed its support for the efforts made to bring peace to Sudan and in particular for the initiatives taken by the IGAD countries. The Union remains prepared to contribute in every way possible to the peace process and the conclusion of an agreement which allows all Sudanese to live freely together. (98/C 117/120) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2888/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council (16 September 1997) Subject: Death of Rev. Yusefi in Iran, September 1996 Can the Council provide information on what action it has taken following the murder of Rev. Yusefi, a pastor of the Iranian Assemblies of God, in Iran in September 1996? Is the Council aware that Rev. Yusefi was possibly murdered simply because of his Christian beliefs? Does this not constitute an abuse of human rights? Answer (26 November 1997) Mohammad Yusefi, who converted to Christianity at the age of 24 and who pastored Christian congregations in Iran, was found dead on 28 September 1996 near his home city of Sari, in Mazandaran province. Reports about the circumstances surrounding his death suggested that he might have been murdered and several persons were detained for questioning. The Iranian authorities however maintain that Mr Yusefi had committed suicide and that neither the church to which he belonged nor Mr Yusefi himself had any problem with the Iranian authorities