MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on executions in Kuwait and Bahrain
14.2.2017 - (2017/2564(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Marietje Schaake, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Valentinas Mazuronis, Petras Auštrevičius, Dita Charanzová, Marielle de Sarnez, Gérard Deprez, Martina Dlabajová, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Louis Michel, Javier Nart, Urmas Paet, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Frédérique Ries, Jasenko Selimovic, Hannu Takkula, Pavel Telička, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Hilde Vautmans, Paavo Väyrynen, Renate Weber, Cecilia Wikström on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0150/2017
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Bahrain, notably of 3 February 2016 on the case of Mohammed Ramadan and of 7 July 2016 on Bahrain, and on Death penalty in October 2015,
– having regard to the statement of 15 January 2017 by the Spokesperson of Vice-President/High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on the execution carried out in Bahrain and the one of 25 January on the recent executions in the State of Kuwait,
– having regard to the statement of 25 January by the UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard, and on Torture, Nils Melzer urgently calling for the government of Bahrain to stop new executions, and the statement of 17 January by the spokesperson of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colville on Bahrain,
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty, on Torture, on Freedom of Expression and on Human Rights Defenders,
– having regard to the new EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights, which aims to place the protection and surveillance of human rights at the heart of all EU policies,
- having regard to United Nations General Assembly Resolutions, in particular the one of 18 December 2014 on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty
– having regard to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Arab Charter on Human Rights, to all of which Kuwait and Bahrain are a party,
– having regard to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 15,
– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 25 January, Kuwait's authorities executed seven people[1], including a member of the royal family who were convicted for different criminal offences; whereas five of the prisoners were foreigners and three of them women; whereas the executions were the first in the country since 2013, when Kuwaiti authorities executed five people after a six-year moratorium on the death penalty;
B. whereas human rights organisations have documented due process violations in Kuwait's criminal justice system that have made it difficult for defendants to get a fair trial;
C. whereas on 15 January, Bahrain executed Ali Al-Singace, Abbas Al-Samea and Sami Mushaima by firing squad, ending a six-year moratorium; whereas the three men are the first Bahrainis executed since 1996; whereas there are serious doubt whether the accused were provided with the right to fair trial; whereas the accused were never allowed to meet with their lawyers at any time; whereas they were found guilty after being allegedly tortured into making false confessions; whereas one of the convicts was under the age of 18 when he was arrested for his alleged crime;
D. whereas the three men were accused of a bombing in Manama on 2014, which killed several people, including three police officers;
E. whereas two other persons, Mohammad Ramadan and Hussein Moosa, have exhausted all rights of appeal and are at imminent risk of execution in Bahrain following the confirmation of their sentences late 2015; whereas both men were allegedly tortured while in prison, which the authorities have failed to investigate, coerced to confess their crime and prevented to have proper legal assistance, as already denounced by the European Parliament; whereas their convictions have been based almost exclusively on these confessions;
F. whereas they have been accused of a bombing in February 2014 killing 1 security officer and wounded several others;
1. Deplores Kuwait and Bahrain’s decision to return to the practice of capital punishment; reiterates its condemnation of the use of the death penalty and calls on Kuwaiti and Bahraini authorities to reinstate a moratorium on the death penalty as a step towards abolition; emphasizes once again that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and that the ultimate aim of the EU is universal abolition.
2. Calls on the Bahraini authorities to halt the executions of Mohammad Ramadan and Hussein Moosa and to ensure a re-trial in compliance with international standards; reminds the Bahraini authorities that all allegations of human rights violations committed during the proceedings, including torture by security forces during interrogations have to be duly investigated; Calls on His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to grant Mr Ramadan and Mr Moosa a royal pardon or to commute their sentence.
3. Calls on the Governments of Kuwait and Bahrain to issue and immediate and open invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture to conduct a country visit, and to allow unfettered access to detainees and to all places of detention.
4. Stresses that the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights expressly prohibit the death penalty for offences committed by persons below 18 years old; expresses its strong concern over the fact that the executions contravened domestic and international obligations.
5. Reminds that the EU considers capital punishment to be a cruel and inhuman punishment which fails to act as a deterrent to criminal behaviour.
6. Calls on Kuwait and Bahrain to sign and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
7. Urges the EEAS and the Member States to continue fighting against the use of the death penalty; strongly urges Kuwait and Bahrain to comply with international minimum standards, and to reduce the scope and use of the death penalty; urges the EEAS to remain vigilant with regard to developments in these two countries and in the gulf region in general, and to use all means of influence at its disposal.
8. Calls on the EEAS and HR/VP Federica Mogherini to insist on the establishment of a formal human rights dialogue with the Kuwaiti and Bahraini authorities, in accordance with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues.
7. 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 Government and Parliament of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Government and Parliament of the State of Kuwait and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- [1] Mohammad Shahed Mohammad Sanwar Hussain, Jakatia Midon Pawa, Amakeel Ooko Mikunin, Nasra Youseff Mohammad al-Anzi, Sayed Radhi Jumaa, Sameer Taha Abdulmajed Abduljaleel, Faysal Abdullah Jaber Al Sabah