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Proposta de resolução - B8-0715/2015Proposta de resolução
B8-0715/2015
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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

Josef Weidenholzer, Victor Boştinaru, Richard Howitt, Norbert Neuser, Elena Valenciano, Linda McAvan, Eric Andrieu, Nikos Androulakis, Zigmantas Balčytis, Brando Benifei, Goffredo Maria Bettini, José Blanco López, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Biljana Borzan, Nicola Caputo, Andi Cristea, Viorica Dăncilă, Nicola Danti, Isabella De Monte, Damian Drăghici, Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Enrico Gasbarra, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Neena Gill, Michela Giuffrida, Maria Grapini, Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Jeppe Kofod, Cătălin Sorin Ivan, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Afzal Khan, Jude Kirton-Darling, Arne Lietz, Javi López, Marlene Mizzi, Csaba Molnár, Alessia Maria Mosca, Victor Negrescu, Momchil Nekov, Demetris Papadakis, Emilian Pavel, Tonino Picula, Miroslav Poche, Laurenţiu Rebega, Liliana Rodrigues, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández, Daciana Octavia Sârbu, Olga Sehnalová, Siôn Simon, Renato Soru, Claudia Tapardel, Marc Tarabella, Julie Ward, Damiano Zoffoli on behalf of the S&D Group

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

Processo : 2015/2766(RSP)
Ciclo de vida em sessão
Ciclo relativo ao documento :  
B8-0715/2015
Textos apresentados :
B8-0715/2015
Textos aprovados :

B8‑0715/2015

European Parliament resolution on situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan

(2015/2766(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan

- having regard to human rights experts report for the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council of 19 May 2014

- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

- having regards to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,

- having regards to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,

- having regard to the revised Cotonou Agreement,

- having regard to the EU Guidelines on freedom of religion and belief of 2013

- having regard to Sudan's national human rights plan adopted in 2013, based on the principles of universality and equality of all people,

- having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure

 

A.  whereas pastor Yat Michael of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church was taken into custody by the Sudanese National Intelligence Service (NISS) after preaching at the Khartoum North Church of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church during his visit in Sudan on 21 December 2014; whereas pastor Yat Michael was arrested immediately after the sermon in which he reportedly condemned the controversial sale of the church land and property and the treatment of Christians in Sudan;

 

B.  whereas pastor Peter Yen of the same denomination was arrested on 11 January 2015 after he delivered a letter to the Religious Affairs Office in Khartoum asking about pastor Yat Michael's arrest in December;

 

C.  whereas both pastors are detained at the high security Kober Prison in Khartoum North since 1 March, before which they were being held incommunicado;

 

D.  whereas the National Security Act of Sudan allows the detention of suspects for up to four-and-a-half months without any form of judicial review;

 

E.  whereas the pastors were charged with eight offences under the 1991 Penal Code including the offences of undermining the constitutional system or endangering the unity and independence of the country and waging war against the State which are punishable by the death penalty while the other offences carry life imprisonment, fine or flogging sentences.

 

F.  whereas the lawyer of the two pastors Mohamed Mustafa was arrested on 1 July 2015 along with Pastor Hafez of the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church and later released on bail; whereas they have been charged with violating the Sudanese Penal Code and could receive up to six months imprisonment, a fine or both;

 

G.  whereas on 2 July 2015 the Sudanese Court decided that enough evidence exists to require two South Sudanese Presbyterian pastors to face trial on espionage and other charges that could carry the death penalty or life imprisonment in the event of a guilty verdict;

 

H.  whereas since the secession of Southern Sudan in 2011 there has been an increased number of reported cases of discrimination and harassment of the Christian community in Sudan including threats against Church leaders and destruction of church property;

 

I.  whereas Sudan’s 2005 Interim National Constitution provides for freedom of religion in Sudan;

 

J.  whereas Sudan has ratified the relevant UN and African Union conventions and thereby has an international obligation to defend and promote freedom of religion or belief.

 

1. Condemns the unjustified detention of pastors Yat Michael and Peter and calls on the Sudanese Government to release them unconditionally and drop the charges against them.

2. Calls on the government of Sudan to ensure that pending their unconditional release, Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment and that their physical and mental integrity is duly respected.

3. Calls upon the Government of Sudan to repeal all legislation that discriminates on the grounds of religion, to protect the identity of minority groups, including those of all faiths. Calls also on the government of Sudan to abolish apostasy laws and to stop the closing of churches and other religious sites.

 

4. Calls on the Sudanese Government to review its National Security Act, which allows the detention of suspects for up to four-and-a-half months without any form of judicial review. Calls also on the Sudanese Government to reform its legal system in accordance with international human rights standards.

5. Calls on the Sudanese Government to repeal the death penalty and the practice of flogging which is still in force, and to commute death sentences.

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Sudan, the African Union, the United Nations Secretary-General, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).