MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on violations of human rights including religious freedoms in Burkina Faso

17.12.2019 - (2019/2980(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 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Lars Patrick Berg, Christine Anderson, Markus Buchheit, Nicolaus Fest, Thierry Mariani
on behalf of the ID Group

B9‑0268/2019

European Parliament resolution on violations of human rights including religious freedoms in Burkina Faso

(2019/2980(RSP))

The European Parliament,

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

- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1976, in particular article 18 thereof,

- having regard to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981 on the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,

- having regard to article 7 of the Constitution of Burkina Faso,

- having regard to the Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the security situation in Burkina Faso of 17 September 2019,

- having regard to the US Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report of 2018,

- having regard to the final report and recommendations of Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians of 2019,

- having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Burkina Faso is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1976;

B. whereas the Constitution of Burkina Faso guarantees “freedom of belief, of non-belief, of conscience, of religious opinion, philosophy, of religious exercise, the freedom of assembly, the free practice of custom as well as the freedom of procession and its demonstration is guaranteed by the present Constitution subject to respect of the law, of the public order, of good morals and of the human person”;

C. whereas 60.5% of Burkinabé adhere to Islam, and an estimated 23% of the population practice Christianity;

D. whereas numerous attacks against civilians and military have been carried out by radical Islamist insurgent groups;

E. whereas, on Sunday, 1 December 2019, gunmen launched an attack on a church service in the town of Hantoukoura, killing 14 people and wounding several others;

F. whereas the US has ordered the departure of family members of embassy employees under the age of 21 from the country due to the deteriorating security situation;

1.  Expresses its grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso and the presence and actions of radical Islamist insurgent groups;

2. Condemns the attacks against civilian Christians exercising their constitutional right to freely practice their religion;

3. Emphasises that, according to a recent report commissioned by the UK Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt, at least 80% of persecuted religious believers are Christians;

4. Expresses its concern that whereas a century ago Christians comprised 20% of the population in the Middle East and North Africa, this has now fallen to less than 4%;

5. Considers that the European Union and its Member States should be particularly concerned about the persecution of minorities across the world;

6. Calls on religious authorities to condemn the attacks against Christians in Burkina Faso; further calls on the international community to condemn the actions by Islamist terrorist groups in Burkina Faso and other regions in Africa and to strengthen their commitment to fight AQMI and Al Mourabitoune;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the Delegation of the European Union to Burkina Faso, and the Government of Burkina Faso.