By Nawab Khan
BRUSSELS, April 28 (KUNA) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Joint Parliamentary Committee held a meeting with the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament here Thursday and exchanged views on issues like human rights, freedom of speech, respect of law and fight against terrorism.
The aim of the first visit of the GCC joint Parliamentary Committee to the European Parliament is to convey the "correct and clear picture" to the EP on the interest and care of the GCC parliaments on human rights, freedom, women's rights and the democratic rule, Abudllah Yousef Al-Maayouf, member of Kuwait's National Assembly, told the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, in an interview.
In the meeting, the GCC parliamentarians informed the EP committee on the wrong information it has about the human rights situation in the Arab Gulf countries, he said.
"Both the governments and the people of the GCC countries are working to strengthen and solidify the democratic rule and freedom of speech," said Al-Maayouf and stressed that "there is no human rights violations" in the six-member GCC which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
He said that respect of human rights is enshrined in the noble teachings of Islam and the Prophet and is "part of our tradition which does not allow any injustices or wrongdoings." The Gulf parliamentarians said that terrorism is a global phenomenon and not restricted to any region or faith. They stressed that Islam is free of any accusations of terrorism and that Islam does not permit any acts of terror or violence against anybody.
"We in Arab and Muslims countries are also suffering from terrorism as evident from attacks in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey," said Al-Maayouf.
They also stressed in the meeting that there should be one standard to measure human rights and not double standards. The GCC side noted that the human rights of Palestinians are being violated on daily basis by the Israelis.
The two sides also agreed on more exchange visits between their parliaments to strengthen cooperation.
On his part, Ahmed Alqudaibi, member of Kuwait's National Assembly, told KUNA that the aim of their visit is to exchange information between the GCC and the EP and to discuss human rights laws and their implementation and the freedom of expression.
"The GCC is an open region and there are no political prisoners," he stressed.
Referring in particular to Kuwait, Alqudaibi said the country is ruled on the basis of constitution and laws and respect of freedom of speech and human rights.
The GCC Joint Parliamentary Committee later held a separate meeting with the chairman of the EP foreign relations committee, Elmar Brok, and discussed bilateral EU-GCC ties and regional developments. (end) nk.ibi