MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on India, in particular the death sentence against Davinder Pal Singh

5.7.2011

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Elmar Brok, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Mario Mauro, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Cristian Dan Preda, Bernd Posselt, Monica Luisa Macovei, Tunne Kelam, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Sari Essayah, Agnès Le Brun, Martin Kastler, Zuzana Roithová, Bogusław Sonik on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0467/2011

B7‑0468/2011

European Parliament resolution on India, in particular the death sentence against Davinder Pal Singh

The European Parliament,

– having regard to UN General Assembly Resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007 on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty in the world,

 

– having regard to the UN Secretary-General's report to the fifteenth session of the Human Rights Council on the question of the death penalty of 16 July 2010 (A/HRC/15/19),  

 

– having regard to Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 

 

– having regard to  the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty, in particular in view of the planned revision of the Guidelines in 2011,

 

– having regard to the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of India of 1994,

 

– having regard to the EU‑India Thematic Dialogue on Human Rights,

 

– having regard to Art. 122 of its rules of procedure,

 

A.  whereas Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar was sentenced to death in August 2001 for his involvement in a bombing in Delhi in 1993 that left nine people dead,

 

B.  whereas Mahendra Nath Das was also sentenced to death in August 1997 for murder,

 

C.  whereas no death sentences were executed in India since 2004,

 

D.  whereas the Indian President Pratibha Patil did not give clemency to Mr Singh Bhullar and Mr Mahendra Nath on May 25 2011,

 

1.  Reiterates its long-standing opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances and appeals to the Indian authorities not to execute the death sentences of Mr Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar and Mr Mahendra Nath Das;

 

2.  Urges the Indian government to uphold the moratorium on the practice of execution of death sentences, as prescribed by the UN General Assembly Resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007 and to work towards the total abolishment of the death sentence;

 

3.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to India's Prime Minister, India's Minister for Law & Justice, India's Home Minister, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Indian Parliament, the Parliaments of the EU Member States and the UN Secretary-General.