MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the freedom of expression in Bangladesh

24.11.2015 - (2015/2970(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

Marietje Schaake, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Dita Charanzová, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Petras Auštrevičius, Nedzhmi Ali, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Philippe De Backer, Marielle de Sarnez, Martina Dlabajová, Fredrick Federley, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Louis Michel, Javier Nart, Urmas Paet, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Frédérique Ries, Robert Rochefort, Pavel Telička, Ivo Vajgl, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Hilde Vautmans, Cecilia Wikström, Filiz Hyusmenova, Kaja Kallas on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1257/2015

B8‑1266/2015

European Parliament resolution on the freedom of expression in Bangladesh

(2015/2970(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on Bangladesh, in particular that of 16 September 2014 on human rights violations in Bangladesh and of 16 January 2014 on recent elections in Bangladesh;

 

-having regard to its resolution of 11 December 2012 on a digital freedom strategy in EU foreign policy and to its resolution of 13 June 2013 on the freedom of press and media in the world

 

-having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

 

-having regard to the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy of 20 July 2015

 

-having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which Bangladesh is a party, particularly article 19.

 

-having regard to the United Nations Declarations on Human Rights Defenders

 

-having regard to the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline of 12 May 2014,

 

-having regard to the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief of 24 June 2013,

 

-having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,

 

-having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.Whereas freedom of expression is an indispensable pillar of a democratic and pluralist society; whereas freedom of the press and media are vital elements for democracy and an open society;

 

B.Whereas promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief is one of the key priorities of the EU's human rights policy, including the full endorsement of the principle of non-discrimination and equal protection for persons holding a non-theistic or atheistic belief;

 

C.Whereas the Bangladesh Constitution adopted in 2014 enshrines fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression;

 

D.Whereas violations of fundamental freedoms and human rights – including violence, incitement, hate speech, harassment, intimidation and censorship, journalists, bloggers,– continue to be widespread in Bangladesh ; whereas Bangladesh ranks 145 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index;

 

E.Whereas tensions between secular and religious forces have risen and violence against dissenting voiced has increased; whereas for years fundamentalist domestic Islamist extremist groups have called for the execution of secular bloggers and writers and have conducted brutal murders with relative impunity;

 

F.Whereas on October 31st 2015, the editor Faisal Arefin Dipan of the Jagriti Prokashoni publishing house was brutally murdered inside his office; whereas the same day another editor and two writers were attacked and injured while others are still facing threats;

 

G.Whereas at least five secular bloggers and journalists were murdered in the country this year (Niloy Chatterjee, Faisal Arefin Dipan, Ananta Bijoy Das, Washiqur Rahman Babu, Avijit Roy) for having used their fundamental right to free speech on political, social and religious issues; whereas Islamic extremists groups have claimed responsibility for several killings;

 

H.Whereas prominent blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider was murdered in 2013, university professor AKM Shafiul Islam in 2014; whereas many other bloggers have received death threats or survived assassination attempts and several have stopped writing, or fled the country;

 

I.Whereas Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the killing and expressed her Government's commitment to combat terrorism and violent extremism; whereas in spite of this, she has also reported her government’s arrest of secular bloggers and the establishment of an intelligence panel to scan social media for potentially blasphemous content;

 

J.Whereas there has been an alarming increase in harassment through the unwarranted application of laws in 2014; whereas 13 media persons including editors, publishers, senior officers' bearers of journalist association and the media have faced contempt proceedings contributing to an overall environment of fear and intimidation leading to self-censorship;

 

K.Whereas some members of the opposition parties have disappeared over the last years;

 

L.Whereas certain arrests and judicial decisions have also raised free expression concerns, especially under the Information and Communication Technology Act (ICT act);

 

M.Whereas the government proposed the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act, designed to regulate operations and funding for any group receiving foreign grants;

 

1.   Condemns the murder of the editor Faisal Arefin Dipan and the attacks of two other writers that took place in Bangladesh on October 31st 2015 and calls for an immediate end to all acts of violence, harassment, intimidation or censorship against journalists, bloggers and civil society activist and groups;

 

2.   Expresses its deepest concern over the deteriorating climate for free expression which has accompanied the rise of religious fundamentalism, intolerance, and extremist violence in Bangladesh; remains deeply concerned at the lack of protection provided by authorities for activists and journalists;

 

3.   Reaffirms that freedom of the press and media are fundamental rights and vital elements for democracy and an open society;

 

4.   Reminds the Bangladesh Government of its responsibility to ensure the security and safety of all citizens irrespective of their political views, affiliation or confession, and to guarantee that the freedoms of expression and the press can be exercised without arbitrary limitations and censorship in the country;

 

5.   Reminds the competent Bangladesh authorities of their national and international legal obligations, and calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh Government to prioritise the protection and promotion of human rights and ensure accountability for human rights violations;

 

6. Calls on the Bangladesh authorities to ensure immediate independent investigations and explanations into the disappearances of members of opposition parties over the last few years, particularly in the months leading up to and subsequent to the January 2014 elections;

 

7.   Calls on the Bangladesh authorities to commit to free speech and assembly and to restore full independence of the media, including through ensuring independence and impartiality of the court system and amending the Information and Communication Technology Act, in line with international free speech standards, and dropping the criminalisation of “anti-State” publications;

 

8. Calls on the Bangladesh authorities to amend the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act of 2014 to ensure that the work of civil society organizations is not subject to arbitrary control by the government, and that all decisions made under this Act are subject to an independent review process;

 

9.   Urges the Bangladesh authorities to prevent impunity and to fully and without further delay to take immediate action against those responsible for these crimes, to launch independent and effective investigations and to ensure prosecutions;

 

10.   Calls on the Bangladeshi authorities to urgently fulfil its commitments and apply the United Nations Plan of Action for Safety of Journalist and the Issue of Impunity endorsed in 2013;

 

11.   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, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government and Parliament of Bangladesh;