Brussels, 18/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - MEPs of the S&D Group welcomed, on Thursday 17 November, the release of the psychoanalyst, Rafah Nached, who is of Syrian origin, and who had been imprisoned since September. Nached was released on 16 November with 1,180 other detainees held by the Syrian authorities. Véronique De Keyser of Belgium states in a press release that this is “very good news”. The European Parliament had passed a resolution calling for Nached's release during the October plenary session.
S&D MEPs spoke of their concern regarding the crackdown in Syria. De Keyser said they were revolted by the brutal repression of the Syrian regime against the civilian population, a crackdown that has lasted for months now. They deplore the lack of a joint response from the United Nations Security Council. Bashar Al-assad must, they say, stand down so that democratic transition may take place. (CG/transl.jl)