VP/HR — Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir sentenced to death in Mauritania
22.12.2016
Question for written answer E-009753-16
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
María Teresa Giménez Barbat (ALDE)
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is one of the countries in which apostasy is still punishable by death.
A recent case is that of the death sentence handed down against Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir, which, at the time of writing (December 2016), looks set to be confirmed by Mauritania’s supreme court. Mr Mkhaitir was jailed in 2014, accused of apostasy (under Article 306 of Mauritania’s criminal code) after emphasising the links between slavery and religion in an online blog post.
Given the EU’s commitment to freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and its opposition to the death penalty (as enshrined in Articles 2, 10 and 11 of our Charter of Fundamental Rights, OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 389):
- 1.Could the Vice-President/High Representative state whether it has made any diplomatic representations with a view to halting these particular legal proceedings?
- 2.What strategy does the Vice-President/High Representative have to promote the abolition of the death penalty and of legislation outlawing blasphemy in our neighbouring countries in the Maghreb?