MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan

7.7.2015 - (2015/2766(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Mark Demesmaeker, Peter van Dalen, Arne Gericke, Valdemar Tomaševski, Raffaele Fitto, Jana Žitňanská, Anna Elżbieta Fotyga, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Ryszard Czarnecki, Geoffrey Van Orden, Branislav Škripek, Angel Dzhambazki, Beatrix von Storch on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0707/2015

B8‑0707/2015

European Parliament resolution on situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan

(2015/2766(RSP))

The European Parliament,

A.       whereas Pastor Michael Yat was arrested on the 14th December 2015 after having delivered a sermon in Khartoum; it is reported that during his sermon he voiced his concerns over how Christians were treated in Sudan

 

B.        whereas Pastor Peter Yen Reith was arrested on 11th January after having delivered a letter to the Sudanese Religious Affairs Office asking Pastor Michael and wanting to know more about his arrest

C.       whereas both men were held incommunicado until 1st March 2015; on the 4th May both men were charged with multiple offences under Sudan's Criminal Act 1991 including; joint criminal acts (Article 21), undermining the constitutional system (51), waging wage against the state (51), espionage (53), unlawfully obtaining or disclosing official documents (55), agitating hatred (64), disturbing the peace (69) and blasphemy (125);

 

1.      Implores on the Sudanese authorities to drop all charges against Pastor Michael Yat and Pastor Peter Yen Reith and calls for their immediate release;

2.      Calls on the High Representative/Vice- President to appeal directly to the Sudanese Government to release both men; asks for the European Union Delegation to Sudan to monitor court proceedings and provide assistance to the pastors;

3.      Reminds Sudanese authorities of their national and international obligations to protect the freedom of religion and of belief; demands that the Sudanese authorities respect their National Constitution particularly with reference to Articles 1, 4, 6 and 34; asks that the Sudanese authorities meet their obligations as laid down in the treaties and conventions to which they are signatories

4.       Urges Sudan to repeal and reject any legal provisions that penalise or discriminate against individuals for their religious beliefs or for changing their religion or beliefs or, for inducing others to change a religion or belief;

5.       Notes with alarm that Sudan ranks sixth in the 2015 Open Doors World Watch List (a Christian NGO list which highlights the top 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian); deplores the on- going persecution of Christians in Sudan, the destruction of churches and church property and the imprisonment of clergy

8.      Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government of the Republic of Sudan.