WRITTEN QUESTION E-2715/99 by Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Human rights violations in Iran.
C 303 E/98 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 (2000/C 303 E/091) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2715/99 by Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Human rights violations in Iran (18 January 2000) Is the Commission aware of the plight, and in particular the whereabouts, of the students Mehdi Rohani, Halakin, Jazdi, Faghihian, Gholami and Borumand, who were arrested in the town of Isfahan on 28 August the four students who, according to a statement made on 1999, or the names and situation of 12 September 1999 by the presiding judge of the Tehran Revolutionary Tribunal, Mr Rahbarpour, were sentenced to death. Is it prepared to take up these cases and make representations to the Iranian Government, drawing attention to the plight of the detainees, in particular to those sentenced to death? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2713/99, E-2714/99 and E-2715/99 given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (2 February 2000) The Commission follows with concern the issue of human rights in Iran. In the comprehensive dialogue between the Union and Iran, questions regarding human rights are always raised by the Union. This was most recently the case of the meeting of the Troika with the Iranian deputy Foreign Minister in Helsinki on 1 December 1999. The Commission is also involved in the demarches made by the Union to Iran in this respect. A number of demarches were made concerning the 13 Iranian Jews by the Union Troika as well as by individual Member States in the autumn of 1999. A Union Troika demarche regarding the reported death sentences on four students took place on 3 October 1999. The possibilities for the Union to influence the situation in Iran are relatively limited due to the absence of any contractual relationship and the modest level of bilateral exchange. Nevertheless, the Iranian regime remains sensitive to international pressure, as it seeks to improve its ties with the Union and other partners. To be effective, however, such pressure which should be measured, in order not to create an impression of foreign interference. In the case of the 13 Iranian Jews, Iranian representatives have pledged that the detainees will receive a á fair and just í trial. It has even been suggested that they may be released á in the national interest í. Iranian authorities are undoubtedly also aware of the strong negative international reaction that would follow any executions of student leaders. (2000/C 303 E/092) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2718/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council (13 January 2000) Subject: Russia: case of Dmitry Neverovsky, an imprisoned conscientious objector, tabled on 9 December 1999 Dmitry Neverovsky, a 26 year old mathematician from Obninsk in the Kaluga region, declared his conscientious objection in 1997. In October 1999, a criminal prosecution case was brought against him. During the trial, which took place on 24 and 25 November in Obninsk, Mr Neverovsky stated again that he objected to military service as a protest against the war in Chechnya. He was sentenced to two yearsí imprisonment. Apparently, Dmitry Neverovsky is today the only conscientious objector imprisoned in the Russian Federation. The right to conscientious objection and to the replacement of compulsory military service by an alternative civilian service is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation (Article 59(3)). This constitutional right (as well as other civil rights and liberties) is directly applicable, according to Articles 15 and 18 of the Constitution, although the Federal law regulating the questions of performing alternative civilian service has not yet been adopted by the State Duma. According to the decision taken by