13 October 1994

Doc. 7179

       Revised (English only)

WRITTEN DECLARATION No. 233

on Taslima Nasrin

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly,

      Welcome the fact that certain European countries have lent support or granted the right of entry to Taslima Nasrin, against whom a fatwa has been issued by Muslim fundamentalists in Bangladesh on the grounds of her writings in favour of individual freedom and the rights of women, and

      Express the wish that all member states of the Council of Europe will contribute to the defence of the freedom of expression by allowing her to enter their territory and speak freely.

Signed:

(see overleaf)

Signed:

Hint - Estonia - LDR

Dromberg - Finland - EDG

Ruffy - Switzerland - SOC

Toivonen - Finland - EDG

Err - Luxembourg - SOC

Saint Cyr - Sweden - EDG

de Puig - Spain - SOC

Iwinski - Poland - SOC

Hadjidemetriou - Cyprus - SOC

Håvik - Sweden - SOC

Baarveld-Schlaman - Netherlands - SOC

Moreno - Spain - SOC

Vajda - Slovakia - LDR

Hooper - United Kingdom - EDG

Hardy - United Kingdom - SOC

Halonen - Finland - SOC

Banks - United Kingdom - SOC

_______________________

Total : 17

*       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left