MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel

27.4.2021 - (2021/2647(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

Jaak Madison, Lars Patrick Berg, Thierry Mariani, Harald Vilimsky, Gerolf Annemans, Filip De Man
on behalf of the ID Group

B9‑0253/2021

European Parliament resolution on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel

(2021/2647(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, in particular Articles 18 thereof, to which Pakistan is a state party,

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

– having regard to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of 27 February 2020 (A/HRC/43/48),

– having regard to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,

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

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

A. whereas religious minorities in Pakistan, including Christians, have experienced attacks and discrimination from extremist groups and the wider society;

B. whereas Christians constitute a minority of less than 2% in Pakistan; whereas Pakistan’s Christian minority continues to suffer discrimination, intolerance, persecution, blasphemy accusations, sexual assaults, forced conversions and forced marriages also continued to affect Pakistan’s Christian community; whereas there were at least 38 incidents where Christians were persecuted in the second half of 2020 in Pakistan;

C. whereas the Constitution of Pakistan established Islam as the state religion; whereas the Constitution of Pakistan recognises the right to freedom of religion;

D. whereas the country has blasphemy laws in place which are disproportionality implemented against religious minorities; whereas at least 20 people convicted of blasphemy remain on death row in Pakistan;

E. whereas Christian and Hindu women in Pakistan are particularly vulnerable to abduction, rape and forced marriage;

F. whereas a Christian couple, Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, were found guilty of sending blasphemous texts to a mosque cleric and sentenced to death in April 2014; whereas the couple have been imprisoned since 2013;

G. whereas blasphemy cases have recently been registered against two nurses, Newish Urooj and Mariam Lal;

H. whereas Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world; whereas approximately 80% of persecuted religious believers are Christians;

1. Condemns, in general, the continuing human rights violations in Pakistan;

2. Expresses its grave concern about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan; expresses particular concern about the situation of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, who are on death row and have been imprisoned since 2013; draws attention to and expresses concern regarding the blasphemy cases brought against Newish Urooj and Mariam Lal;

3.  Urges the Pakistani government to protect, promote and respect the right to freedom of religion in accordance with its international obligations;

4. Considers that Member States have a particular role to play in condemning and confronting attacks against communities that share their Christian heritage; urges the Member States and the Commission to reassess Pakistan’s eligibility to benefit from the GSP+ and to receive aid from European states;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU Vice-President and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Secretary-General of the UN, and the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.