Relato integral dos debates

Quinta-feira, 20 de Janeiro de 2011 - Estrasburgo

11.1. Paquistão: assassinato do governador do Punjab, Salmaan Taseer

  předseda. − Dalším bodem je rozprava k sedmi návrhům usnesení o Pákistánu⁽¹⁾.

  Marietje Schaake, author. − Mr President, there is a fundamental struggle going on in Pakistan and the extremism that we have seen has to end, especially the abusive blasphemy laws. These are leading to a climate of fear and intolerance and, in the worst cases, extremism.

The fight against extremism is not an easy task, which is why the Pakistani Government and all those citizens who agree that intolerance and extremism are unacceptable need our support. We have to continue to wipe out terrorism.

The Governor, Mr Taseer, was violently murdered out of sheer intolerance by a guard from his own security detail, a person who should have protected him. His daughter, Shehrbano, wrote a letter which was published in The New York Times, from which I would like to quote, because I think she gets to the essence and it is very good to use her words in memory of her father.

She says of the perpetrator: ‘Mr Qadri and his supporters may have felled a great oak that day, but they are sadly mistaken if they think they have succeeded in silencing my father’s voice or the voices of millions like him who believe in the secular vision of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammed Ali Jinnah’. She continues: ‘There are those who say my father’s death was the final nail in the coffin for a tolerant Pakistan. That Pakistan’s liberal voices will now be silenced. But we buried a heroic man, and not the courage he inspired others’.

Others followed in their condemnation of the blasphemy laws, even conservative politicians. We have to support that here in the European Parliament. The daughter of Governor Taseer went to Smith College and she studied European politics and human rights, but too many people in Pakistan are educated in madrasahs. We have to make sure that the young generation has opportunities, and learns how to live together in the diverse society which is Pakistan.

  Tomasz Piotr Poręba, autor. − Panie Przewodniczący! Kilka tygodni po tym jak na skraju upadku stanęła rządząca Pakistanem koalicja, krajem wstrząsnęło zastrzelenie w biały dzień gubernatora Pendżabu. Salmaan Taseer był gubernatorem tej najludniejszej, najbogatszej prowincji kraju, a także ważnym politykiem rządzącej partii. Zginął, bo miał siłę moralną i odwagę zażądać uwolnienia chrześcijanki Asii Bibi, którą skazano na karę śmierci pod zarzutem bluźnierstwa. Jego morderstwo dokonane przez własnego ochroniarza, inspirowane przez muzułmańskich ekstremistów, jest nie tylko kolejnym atakiem na wysoko postawionego polityka w Pakistanie i dowodem na dramatycznie niski poziom bezpieczeństwa w tym kraju, ale przede wszystkim na coraz bardziej widoczne staczanie się tego kraju – Pakistanu – w stronę, gdzie część sił zbrojnych, sądownictwa i elit politycznych popiera skrycie i jawnie politykę ustępstw wobec politycznych i religijnych muzułmańskich ekstremistów.

Wczoraj debatowaliśmy w tej Izbie na temat prześladowania chrześcijan. Dzisiaj przyjęliśmy rezolucję w tej sprawie. Wydaje mi się, że otwiera się pole działania dla pani Ashton i jej służb celem wywarcia dyplomatycznego i politycznego nacisku na pakistańskie władze, które muszą wreszcie zacząć walkę z ekstremizmem religijnym.

  Eija-Riitta Korhola, author. − Mr President, it was shocking, but sadly not surprising, to receive the news that Governor Taseer has been murdered. I personally knew Benazir Bhutto, and Minister Shahbaz Bhatti has become a good friend of mine. What links all three of them is their amazing courage as vocal and visible critics of blasphemy laws and their abuse by extremist groups.

The Government of Pakistan has indeed taken several important steps to improve the rights of minorities, for example by allocating a minimum quota in public jobs. The Government has also formed a committee to review all discriminatory laws, including the blasphemy law. However, the work has not yet finished. Despite several major steps, so long as there is a legal loophole, such as that in the current blasphemy law, so massive that it enables terrorists and extremists to push their own agenda forward, it is difficult to believe in a true commitment to democracy.

I hope that, with this resolution, we can express our continuing solidarity with the Government of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and the spread of extremism.

  Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, autorka. − Panie Przewodniczący! Dokładnie osiem miesięcy temu, 20 maja, Parlament Europejski przyjął rezolucję w sprawie wolności wyznania w Islamskiej Republice Pakistanu. Dziś temat ten znowu wraca do naszej izby w następstwie motywowanego religijnie wyroku kary śmierci dla 45-letniej Asii Bibi i morderstwa gubernatora prowincji Pendżab, Salmana Taseera, który wziął ją publicznie w obronę.

Okazuje się, że sytuacja opisywana przez nas osiem miesięcy temu nie tylko nie uległa poprawie, ale jeszcze się pogorszyła. Dziś w Pakistanie można stracić życie zarówno za tak zwane bluźnierstwo religijne, jak i za wolność słowa – w tym wypadku publiczną wypowiedź na temat wyroku. Morderstwo gubernatora Taseera pokazuje, z jak delikatną sytuacją mamy do czynienia. Pakistan jest podzielony religijnie do tego stopnia, że po obu stronach – chrześcijańskiej i muzułmańskiej – giną ludzie, w tym przedstawiciele lokalnych elit. Publiczne popieranie nowelizacji kodeksu karnego, a szczególnie zapisu 295c mówiącego o karze śmierci za bluźnierstwo, też może grozić śmiercią.

Powinniśmy jednak wymagać odwagi od pakistańskich polityków, przede wszystkim od opozycji, na przykład Pakistańskiej Ligii Muzułmańskiej, która blokuje rządową reformę kodeksu. Możemy również wspierać działania ministerstwa ds. mniejszości i pomagać rządowi premiera Gilaniego w takich kwestiach, jak na przykład polepszanie jakości dziennikarskich relacji w mediach czy materiałach edukacyjnych w szkołach. Dziś Parlament Europejski nie ingeruje w wewnętrzne sprawy Pakistanu, a jedynie przypomina o art. 20 jego konstytucji z 1973 r. i zapisanej w nim wolności wyznania.

  Marie-Christine Vergiat, auteur. − Monsieur le Président, j'ai envie de dire en ouverture de cette intervention que j'ai lu la résolution commune sur le Pakistan et en particulier sur l'assassinat du gouverneur Salman Taseer avec beaucoup d'intérêt. Elle offre un curieux contraste avec celle qui a été adoptée ce matin sur les minorités chrétiennes.

Nous sommes tous attachés dans cet hémicycle, du moins je l'espère, à la liberté d'expression, de conscience et de religion. Ce qui doit nous préoccuper à parts égales, ce sont tous ceux et toutes celles qui victimes de persécutions en raison de leurs choix religieux, y compris quand ils décident de changer de religion et y compris quand ils ne croient pas en Dieu.

Si nous voulons lutter contre les intégrismes religieux quels qu'ils soient, nous devons en effet traiter de la même façon tous ceux et toutes celles qui sont victimes de ces intégrismes. Aucune religion n'est ou n'a été à l'abri de ce que j'appellerai ces écarts intolérables. Rappelons-nous simplement les assassinats massifs des Indiens en Amérique et notamment aux Caraïbes et en Amérique latine. Rappelons-nous de la triste période des croisades, de l'Inquisition ou des guerres de religion entre catholiques et protestants. Souvenons-nous de l'antisémitisme, qui fit tant de ravages au cours du vingtième siècle et qui survit de façon plus ou moins larvée dans nombre de pays de l'Union européenne.

Toutes les religions ont leur intégrisme et les premières victimes de ces intégrismes sont souvent les religieux modérés des mêmes religions. De ce point de vue, l'assassinat de Salman Taseer, gouverneur de la province du Pendjab, est exemplaire. Cet homme a été assassiné parce qu'il était un modèle de tolérance et qu'il avait osé dénoncer la loi sur le blasphème en vigueur dans son pays et les détournements qu'en faisaient certains groupes extrémistes dans des cas comme celui d'Asia Bibi, chrétienne condamnée à mort pour blasphème en vertu du code pénal pakistanais.

L'éloge de son assassin fait par des groupes fanatiques est encore plus insupportable. N'oublions que cette loi sur le blasphème s'applique d'abord à des musulmans, qu'elle frappe toutes les minorités religieuses, tout particulièrement des femmes, mais aussi des syndicalistes, des journalistes, des avocats, et qu'au-delà, tous ces gens sont souvent privés de leurs libertés fondamentales quand ils ne sont pas contraints à vivre dans la clandestinité.

En conséquence, il serait temps que la Commission et les services des affaires extérieures changent leur politique et j'aimerais, Monsieur le Commissaire, que vous nous fassiez un bilan précis de l'accord avec la Tunisie, de l'accord sur la démocratie et les droits de l'homme avec le Pakistan et que la Tunisie nous serve de leçon, vous serve de leçon.

  Jean Lambert, author. − Mr President, I think all of us would want to express our condolences to the family and friends of Salmaan Taseer, the Governor of Punjab put in place by the Government of Pakistan, and we are remembering here today his clear support for Aasia Bibi – a position he knew to be controversial and indeed dangerous.

We are rightly distressed by his murder and the reaction to it by part of the population of Pakistan but we should not forget, as well, that many have mourned him and have done that in public as a public act. It is an act we should be commending, like, for example, the action taken by the media regulator against certain media with regard to their coverage of the alleged murderer.

However, as we know, the blasphemy law in Pakistan puts the lives of Pakistani citizens at risk: Muslim, Christian and others alike, as many speakers have said this afternoon. We are aware that Pakistan is a new democracy, that it is facing conflict on its borders, and that it has faced the disaster of the recent flood, as well as the earthquake only this week. We know that the Government is struggling, but we also recognise that it needs our support in terms of developing democracy within Pakistan, not least in the political battle against extremism and for universal human rights, and it is our role as democratic parliamentarians to support all those who are working for positive change and to give them the voice that others would deny them.

We are also asking for action by the Government of Pakistan, not least to remove the reservations on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – which they ratified with a large number of reservations – and we urged this in our recent delegation visit to Pakistan. We want them, as well, to continue the efforts to change the blasphemy law because this is a law that is more abused than properly used.

  Tunne Kelam, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, we all strongly condemn the brutal murder of the Governor of Punjab on 4 January. This murder was committed in the context that Mr Taseer opposed the notorious blasphemy law which has been a legal justification for the persecution and suppression of other religious groups.

When expressing concern over the increased influence of extremists in Pakistan, we also realise that moderate Muslims and the Pakistani Government, of which Mr Taseer was an influential member, have suffered a grave loss and we offer our condolences to them.

We are worried that the young lawyers praised the assassin, but we also take notice that an overwhelming majority of Pakistani society has condemned this murder. It is important that influential religious authorities have called for the amendment of the blasphemy law, and this is also our demand. We wish the Pakistani authorities all success in increasing their efforts to fight extremism there.

  Mitro Repo, S&D-ryhmän puolesta. – Arvoisa puhemies, Punjabin kuvernöörin Salmaan Taseerin murhassa on pohjimmiltaan kyse Pakistanin yhteiskunnan suvaitsemattomuudesta uskontoja kohtaan. Taseer oli yksi niistä harvoista, jotka uskalsivat julkisesti vastustaa Pakistanin jumalanpilkkalakia. Hän oli pyytänyt presidenttiä armahtamaan Asia Bibin, jumalanpilkasta kuolemaantuomitun kristityn naisen, ja myös vieraillut tämän luona vankilassa. Epäoikeudenmukaisuutta vastustavan kansalaisen kohtalo on kova ja julma tämän päivän Pakistanissa. Onko Asia Bibin kohtalo sama, jos hänet armahdetaan, murhataanko hänetkin?

Syystä herää kysymys, voiko Pakistanin kaltainen valtio nauttia Euroopan unionin tarjoamista kauppaeduista? Parlamentin tulisikin saattaa ihmisoikeuksien kunnioitus yhdeksi peruselementiksi, kun EU neuvottelee asetuksesta, joka koskee yksipuolisten tullietuuksien myöntämistä hätäapuna Pakistanille.

  Kristiina Ojuland, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Mr President, the murder of Governor Salmaan Taseer is not only a private tragedy but a tragedy for democracy in Pakistan.

All the deplorable incidents and cases that have been outlined in the resolution altogether constitute an intimidating sign of Pakistani society’s reluctance to move towards secularisation, and of the rise of religious extremism.

How can Pakistan even call itself a democracy when the freedom of religion that is granted by the constitution is completely ignored by applying the blasphemy laws, to which the late Salmaan Taseer was so opposed.

I would like the European Union to consider the ramifications of the application of such inhumane laws on relations with Pakistan. Pakistan would benefit in many aspects by repealing the blasphemy laws and revoking the penalties that have been based on those laws. I also would expect the Government of Pakistan to reinforce the measures that have been taken to fight the spread of violent extremism.

Violence causes violence and I am quite confident that Pakistan cannot afford the escalation of a full-scale civil war with extremist groupings such as the Taliban.

  Ryszard Czarnecki, w imieniu grupy ECR. – Panie Przewodniczący! Znowu Pakistan, znowu problem, znowu polityczne morderstwo. Rzeczywiście po raz kolejny zajmujemy się tą sprawą. Parę miesięcy temu była rezolucja dotycząca Pakistanu. Problem wraca, a więc jest to taki „gorący kartofel”. Wydaje mi się, że trzeba tu powiedzieć o niedopuszczalnej tolerancji dla tych muzułmańskich imamów, którzy publicznie w Pakistanie, chociażby w Peszawarze, wzywają do zabijania, np. oferując nagrody pieniężne. Takie sytuacje miały miejsce, a władze Pakistanu na to nie reagują. Trzeba powiedzieć jasno, że w pewnym sensie, poprzez brak działań i reakcji, biorą za to współodpowiedzialność.

  William (The Earl of) Dartmouth, on behalf of the EFD Group. – Mr President, to make a personal statement, I spent a lot of time with Salmaan Taseer when we were both in our twenties. Indeed, we were friends. Salmaan wrote to me at Parliament to invite me to stay as his personal guest at the Governor’s house in the Punjab. That letter arrived after Governor Taseer’s murder.

Salmaan was a man of charm, charisma and high intelligence. He was also very capable and effective. He represented the best tradition of Pakistan – a devout Muslim but not in any way fundamentalist. As has been said, Salmaan strongly supported a Christian lady who had been sentenced under blasphemy laws. Salmaan paid for that support with his life. It was a political assassination.

Pakistan is not only a large, developing country. It is a country with over 20 nuclear warheads. I came here today first and foremost to express my profound sorrow, but I must also express my concern – all our concern – for Pakistan.

  Thomas Mann (PPE). - Herr Präsident! Der gewaltsame Tod des Gouverneurs von Punjab, Salman Taseer, der stets für religiöse Toleranz eintrat, führt aller Welt das Erstarken extremistischer Kräfte in Pakistan vor Augen. Zehntausende demonstrierten danach auf der Straße, jedoch nicht gegen den Mord, sondern für den Attentäter. Taseer sprach sich vehement gegen das Blasphemiegesetz aus, welches die Todesstrafe wegen Gotteslästerung verordnet. Erst kürzlich wurde die Christin Asia Bibi – einige Kollegen haben darauf hingewiesen – wegen angeblicher Beleidigung des Propheten Mohammed zum Tode verurteilt.

Als moderater Politiker der PPP war Salman Taseer eine der stärksten Stimmen gegen Extremismus. Sein Tod schwächt die Regierung, die nach dem Rückzug eines Koalitionspartners um das politische Überleben ringt. Zu den 160 Millionen Pakistani gehören nur drei Millionen Christen. Was wird wohl ihnen, einer stets friedfertigen Minderheit, wohl noch alles angetan?

Europa muss sich einmischen, und die Südasien-Delegation, in der ich Vizepräsident bin, wird die Menschenrechtsbewegung mit Nachdruck weiter unterstützen. Es muss zu einer detaillierten Aufklärung des Mordes kommen, der Attentäter und seine Hintermänner müssen zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden.

  Justas Vincas Paleckis (S&D). - Taip, padėtis Pakistane itin sudėtinga ir dėl vidaus, ir dėl išorės sąlygų, todėl tokie įvykiai kaip politinė žmogžudystė, paremta religiniais motyvais, ir dar tokio svarbaus asmens, be abejo, iškart sudrebina visą šalį ir visą visuomenę. Po tokių sukrėtimų įvykiai šalyje gali pakrypti pavojinga linkme – religinio fanatizmo stiprėjimo linkme, žmogaus teisių apribojimo linkme. Mūsų rezoliucija turėtų padėti tam, kad vis dėlto būtų kitokia įvykių eiga, kad ir šitoje situacijoje vis dėlto Pakistano vyriausybė rastų jėgų eiti žmogaus teisių stiprinimo keliu ir priešintis religiniam fanatizmui. Ir tokie žingsniai iš mūsų pusės turi būti labai remiami. Ir, be abejo, teisėjų nepriklausomumas, teisėjų apsauga itin sudėtingose bylose dėl šventvagystės.

  Csaba Sógor (PPE). - Számos alkalommal kifejeztem határozott támogatásomat akkor, amikor az EU harmadik államokkal való kapcsolatában az emberi jogok melletti kemény fellépésről volt szó. A Pakisztánban történtek esetében is így teszek, hiszen ennek a kiállásnak az üzenete az, hogy Európa nem hagyja magára azokat, akik a toleranciáért, a vallásszabadságért, a kisebbséggel szembeni egyenlő bánásmódért emelik fel szavukat. Tudjuk, hogy sok országban valós jelenség a keresztények üldözése. Nemcsak Pakisztánban lenne szükség olyan vezetőkre, mint Szalman Taszír volt. Éppen ezért az Európai Uniónak minden alkalmat meg kell ragadnia, hogy az Európai Külügyi Szolgálat révén egységesen kifejezésre juttassa közös értékeinek fontosságát. Egy ilyen közös értékünk a vallásszabadság. Ha nem emelünk szót a keresztényeket vagy más vallási kisebbségeket érintő atrocitások ellen, akkor saját hitünket sem vehetjük komolyan.

  Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris (PPE). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, Signor Commissario, l'Europa non può restare inerme rispetto a quello che sta accadendo in Pakistan. L'assassinio del governatore del Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, è un atto grave ed esecrabile, una situazione che si è enormemente aggravata in questi mesi.

La divisione tra cristiani e musulmani è sempre più netta, ma la legge sulla blasfemia resta all'origine di tanti atti che violano le libertà fondamentali. Chi vi si oppone o chi, come il governatore del Punjab, si limita ad esprimere una contrarietà rispetto a questa norma, viene soppresso.

Il governatore è morto perché era moderato, per le sue posizioni moderate, per il coraggio di esprimere la sua contrarietà rispetto a questa e ad altre norme che violano le libertà fondamentali. È per questo che una mancanza di un intervento chiaro e forte dell'Europa rischia di lasciare isolati quanti si stanno con coraggio battendo in una direzione che dobbiamo sostenere.

  Pino Arlacchi (S&D). - Mr President, just a few words of criticism on the way some sections of the European public and also some sections of this Parliament are treating Pakistan and its fight against terrorism.

I see too many Pakistan-bashing exercises and I see a disregard of the effort that the Pakistan Government and civil society are making against extremism. It should be very clear to everybody that 90% or more of Pakistani people are against terrorism and that they are paying a very high price for this.

The death of Governor Salmaan Taseer has been condemned by an overwhelming majority of the people, and also by the most prominent religious scholars. Moderate Muslims and all Government authorities have also suffered a great loss and that should be fully recognised by everybody.

  Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE). - Arvoisa puhemies, uskonnonvapaus on yksi perustavanlaatuisista ihmisoikeuksista. Sitä rikotaan kuitenkin lähes päivittäin ympäri maailmaa. Se on julmaa suvaitsemattomuutta.

Jumalanpilkkalaki periytyy Pakistania 1980-luvulla hallinneen sotilasdiktatuurin ajoilta. Ei ole hyväksyttävää, että lakia käytetään uskonnollisten vähemmistöjen vainoamiseen ja kymmeniä ihmisiä tuomitaan lain perusteella vuosittain kuolemaan. EU:n tulee toimia päättäväisesti ja johdonmukaisesti, jotta Pakistanin viranomaiset kumoavat tämän julman lain.

  Charles Tannock (ECR). - Mr President, when Governor Salmaan Taseer was buried, it seemed to me as though any hope for a moderate, stable Pakistan was buried with him. This disgusting murder of a dedicated and enlightened public servant was sparked by his advocacy of reforming Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws. In particular, he championed the case of a Christian woman who is currently awaiting execution – would you believe it – having been convicted of defaming Islam.

We in this Parliament have long called for the reform or scrapping of these wretched blasphemy laws, which are invoked frequently against Pakistan’s religious minorities. This assassination underlines the growing radicalisation of Pakistani society. Jinnah, were he alive today, would be shocked.

Few mainstream politicians dared to follow Salmaan Taseer’s lead and suggest a reform of the blasphemy laws and even fewer will be able to do so now. They will be afraid. Instead, the violent radicals and fanatics – including, I am afraid, leading jurists – praised the assassin and called for his release. They seem to be winning the battle of ideas in Pakistan. As a result, domestic terrorism is flourishing, and we saw this phenomenon again last week.

Can the EU now sustain a strategic relationship with a country so unstable and particularly given our generous concessions over trade and aid?

  Seán Kelly (PPE). - Mr President, we are talking here about a double tragedy: firstly the execution of an innocent man and, secondly, done by someone who was supposed to be minding him, his bodyguard. I can empathise and sympathise with the family in particular, because only a week ago we had a similar experience in difference circumstances, where a beautiful 27-year-old girl from Ireland on her honeymoon in Mauritius was killed in her own bedroom when she walked in on staff who were robbing her room. They strangled her, threw her into the bath and tried to pretend it was suicide. Circumstances are different but the result is the same: an innocent person dead.

Also, a few weeks ago I was part of the EU-US delegation to America and there we met the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He struck me as being a very reasonable, sensible, fair-minded person and he emphasised that religion is about tolerance and we should try to get that message through to the extremists and the fundamentalists.

  Jaroslav Paška (EFD). - Na vražde guvernéra provincie Pandžáb Salmána Tásíra je poburujúce najmä pozadie tohto násilného činu.

Fakt, že k tejto vražde došlo s tichým súhlasom pakistanských duchovných a že miestni právnici podporujú vraha znamená, že v pakistanskej spoločnosti je tolerované zabíjanie z dôvodov náboženskej intolerancie. Pakistanské zákony o rúhaní umožňujú perzekvovať náboženské menšiny až k hrozbe trestu smrťou tak, ako to hrozí matke piatich detí Asie Bibi, ktorá čaká na svoj trest vo väzení.

Preto naozaj nemôžeme byť ľahostajní k tomuto dianiu. Náš tlak na pakistanskú administratívu je plne legitímny a očakávam, že rovnako zareagujú aj všetky slobodné a demokratické sily sveta. Nemôžme predsa dnes – v treťom tisícročí – tolerovať brutálne maniere hlbokého stredoveku realizované tyranmi zneužívajúcimi vieru.

  Csanád Szegedi (NI). - Tisztelt elnök úr! Tisztelt képviselőtársaim! Mindenekelőtt le kell szögeznem, hogy a pakisztáni helyzet általánosságban is, nemcsak ezt az esetet nézve, eléggé nyugtalanító. Pakisztán problémáira nem lehet úgy tekinteni, hogy az távol van tőlünk, hanem pontosan tudjuk, hogy azok a problémák, amik Belső-Ázsia térségben keletkeznek, legyen szó gazdasági problémákról, legyen szó etnikai problémákról, legyen szó akár az emigráció kérdéséről, ezek előbb utóbb átgyűrűznek az Európai Unió térségére is, tehát nagyon is foglalkoznunk kell Pakisztán problémájával. Kettő probléma nyomasztja kifejezetten Pakisztánt, az egyrészt Afganisztánból és Indiából folyamatos támadások, másik pedig - ami számunkra most ezen ülés alkalmával legfontosabb - a muszlim szélsőségesek, akiknek áldozatul is esett Szalman Taszír. Mindezekért arra kérem az Európai Parlamentet, hogy biztosítsuk Pakisztánt a támogatásunkról, hogy a helyzet mielőbb megnyugtatóan rendeződjék.

  Monica Luisa Macovei (PPE). - Asasinarea guvernatorului Salman Taseer, una dintre vocile dedicate toleranţei şi drepturilor minorităţilor în Pakistan, arată un nivel dramatic al încălcării drepturilor omului. Exercitarea libertăţii de exprimare şi de religie în Pakistan este pedepsită de lege prin închisoare sau chiar cu moartea. Salman Taseer a plătit cu viaţa pentru apărarea libertăţii religioase, pentru apărarea vieţii şi libertăţii altora. Noi trebuie să îi sprijinim pe cei care luptă curajos şi cu riscul vieţii lor pentru drepturile omului şi democraţie. Cerem autorităţilor din Pakistan să îi pedepsească pe criminali, pe complicii lor şi să elimine legile blasfemiei.

  Gerard Batten (EFD). - Mr President, the murder of Governor Salmaan Taseer is indeed a brutal and tragic crime. He was killed, apparently, by an Islamic extremist because he advocated changes to the blasphemy law. The murder is a tragedy for Pakistan, but what does it mean for the West?

Instead of doing all we can to combat Islamic fundamentalism taking deeper root in Europe, we placate and appease it. Sharia law is now recognised in some tribunals in the UK. There are inner city areas where the de facto writ of Sharia law runs. Europe, having produced the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution and the wonders of the modern scientific age, now lies supine before a 6th century ideology.

Governments are frightened to confront it because of political correctness and the economic power of some Islamic countries. We must support the moderate and progressive elements in countries like Pakistan, but above all we must assert that Sharia law and Islamic fundamentalism have no place in a modern, Western, liberal democracy.

  Cristian Dan Preda (PPE). - Aş vrea, mai întâi, să spun că, la rândul meu, condamn asasinarea brutală a guvernatorului provinciei Punjab, figură proeminentă a vieţii politice din Pakistan, ce s-a remarcat printr-o luptă curajoasă împotriva extremismului, a intoleranţei şi a fanatismului. În urmă cu şapte luni, am susţinut aici necesitatea revizuirii urgente a dispoziţiilor referitoare la ofensele aduse religiilor din aşa-numitele „legi ale blasfemiei”.

Vreau să reamintesc faptul că posibilităţile de abuz oferite de aceste legi creează o atmosferă de intoleranţă, care încurajează violenţa pe motive religioase, care încurajează, de asemenea, discriminarea, intimidarea şi persecuţia minorităţilor religioase. Cazul Asiei Bibi, ce a culminat, de altfel, prin uciderea guvernatorului Taseer, e emblematic în acest sens. Cred că autorităţile pakistaneze trebuie să demonstreze în fapt ataşamentul declarat faţă de lupta împotriva extremismului în această ţară, abolind legile blasfemiei. Vreau, prin urmare, să preiau aici apelul către vocile raţiunii din Pakistan, lansat de fiica defunctului guvernator al Punjabului, Sher Bano Taseer.

  Miroslav Mikolášik (PPE). - Dovoľte, aby som v prvom rade vyjadril občanom Pakistanu sústrasť a ľútosť nad stratou tak významnej politickej osobnosti, akou bol guvernér Salmán Tásír.

Znepokojuje ma skutočnosť, že v krajine naďalej dochádza k prenasledovaniu ľudí s určitým presvedčením aj náboženských skupín vrátane kresťanov, veď známy je prípad ženy, ktorá na základe šarí´a law, na základe využitia zákona o rúhaní vlastne čaká na popravu. Fakt, že islamské extrémistické zložky sa stále nachádzajú priamo v pakistanských bezpečnostných silách, neprispieva k stabilite krajiny a zjavne naštrbuje dôveru v to, že krajina sa bude riadiť pravidlami právneho štátu. Dúfam teda, že reformný proces v krajine sa bude prehlbovať a chcel by som preto vyzvať všetky politické sily, ale aj náboženské inštitúcie k výraznejšej podpore práve umiernenosti, tolerancie a vzájomnej úcty medzi komunitami.

  Michael Gahler (PPE). - Herr Präsident! Pakistan ist in vielfältiger Weise ein fragiles Land. Politisch fragil, weil die Regierung nicht stark genug ist, ihren eigentlich moderaten Kurs der politischen und wirtschaftlichen Stabilisierung wirksam durchzusetzen und weil die Armee mit ihrem Kampf in den Randgebieten gegen Extremisten eher deren Widerstand noch steigert. Wirtschaftlich fragil, weil die Weltwirtschaftskrise und die verheerende Flutkatastrophe das Land in seiner Entwicklung um Jahre zurückgeworfen haben. Sozial fragil, weil sich die Gesellschaftsstrukturen in Jahrzehnten nicht so entwickelt haben, dass größere Teile der Gesellschaft an einer wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung teilhaben können.

Als Europäische Union müssen wir unseren Dialog mit der politischen Klasse dort führen, um die Erkenntnis zu fördern, dass grundlegender wirtschaftlicher und sozialer Wandel notwendig ist, um den Menschen Perspektiven aufzuzeigen, die besser sind als die Alternative, sich dem Extremismus und dem Fundamentalismus zuzuwenden.

  Bernd Posselt (PPE). - Herr Präsident! Die schlimmsten und blutigsten Regime waren die antireligiösen europäischen Regime der Jakobiner, der Nationalsozialisten und der Kommunisten. Deshalb ist es nicht hilfreich, wenn Frau Vergiat hier pauschal Religionen angreift. Aber Religionen werden leider für ideologische Zwecke missbraucht, und dagegen müssen wir kämpfen, und das ist z.B. in Pakistan der Fall.

Auf der anderen Seite müssen wir wissen, Pakistan wurde bei der Teilung von British-Indien aufgrund religiöser Kriterien geschaffen! Es hat ja keine Geschichte, sondern es wurde als Land der Muslime damals bei der Dekolonisierung von der Kolonialmacht geschaffen. Deshalb müssen wir Verständnis haben, dass es ein islamisches Land ist. Aber wir müssen klar dafür kämpfen, dass dieses Land tolerant organisiert wird, dass es die Religionsfreiheit und die Christen respektiert, als deren Fürsprecher wir als EU viel energischer auftreten müssen, als es bisher der Fall ist. Denn wer soll für die Christen in der Welt auftreten, wenn nicht wir Europäer?

  Sari Essayah (PPE). - Arvoisa puhemies, täällä on jo useampi todennut, kuinka Salmaan Taseer oli henkilö, joka puolusti sanoin ja teoin heikossa asemassa olevia naisia ja vähemmistöuskonnon edustajia sekä taisteli muutenkin epäoikeudenmukaisuutta vastaan. Taseer kannatti demokraattista valtiota ja hän puhui julkisesti Pakistanin ankaria jumalanpilkkalakeja vastaan sanoen niiden olevan ihmisten säätämiä ja siksi myös ihmisten muutettavissa.

Useassa puheenvuorossa on jo tuotu esiin kuinka hän asettui voimakkaasti puolustamaan kuolemaantuomittua kristittyä naista ja pyrki kumoamaan tämän saaman tuomion. Nämä kaikki oikeudenmukaisuuden teot koituivat Salmaan Taseerin kohtaloksi. EU:n tulee tukea niitä voimia Pakistanissa, jotka pyrkivät uudistuksiin, koska eivät kaikki Pakistanissa tue fundamentalisteja. Näin ollen EU:n tulee viisaasti harkita ulkopolitiikassaan, millä tavoin Pakistanin tilanteeseen otetaan kantaa.

  Štefan Füle, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, this debate is yet more proof that the European Union is shocked by the brutal murder of Mr Salmaan Taseer, Governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, in Islamabad on 4 January. High Representative Ashton strongly condemned the killing in her statement on 4 January. She urged the Pakistani authorities to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. This assassination is all the more distressing as, based on available reports, it is linked to Mr Taseer’s outspoken defence of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death under questionable blasphemy charges.

It should be noted that on 12 November 2010, High Representative Ashton expressed deep concern over the death sentence given to Mrs Asia Bibi. She called on Pakistan to abolish the death penalty and respect human rights, as guaranteed under the international conventions to which the country is a party.

The European Union has repeatedly brought up the continued application of the blasphemy laws with the Government of Pakistan as part of this human rights dialogue. We are conscious of the fact that the blasphemy laws in their present form are open to abuse and have often been applied against religious minorities. We are also aware that false accusations have been used as a tool to settle private disputes or for personal gain.

We were encouraged by earlier steps taken by the Government of Pakistan to try amending more controversial aspects of the laws. Ideally, of course, the blasphemy laws would be totally repealed. It is unfortunate that in the case of Mr Taseer’s assassination there has been widespread public support for the murderer. We are concerned that fatwas were not only issued against Mr Taseer but also against other public figures who have spoken out for a reform of the blasphemy laws. Inciting hatred and violence with impunity should not be allowed.

The Government of Pakistan has a responsibility to protect its citizens, and we count on it to do everything possible to ensure their safety. There are fears that the murder of Mr Taseer reflects a rise in extremism and intolerance in Pakistan. We need to face up to the situation and consider carefully how to react knowing that the government, and democratic institutions of the states more generally, continue to face daunting challenges. Let me be very clear here: there is no alternative but to continue to strengthen democratic and progressive forces in Pakistan’s civil society.

Pakistan’s constitution explicitly protects the rights of minorities, and accordingly the Government needs to tackle extremism not just in the border areas but also on the streets of Pakistani cities. We need to provide continued emphasis on education in our development cooperation and more needs to be done to promote tolerance within the educational system, especially towards minorities. We are well aware of the vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious minorities in Pakistan; this does not just concern Christians but also Hindus, Shias, Ahmadis and others. The European Union should champion their common cause and not that of any particular group or religion, as this would play into the hands of those wishing to deepen divisions among Christians and Muslims.

We will continue to focus on the need to fully protect every individual’s right to religious freedom in Pakistan or elsewhere.

  President. − The debate is closed.

The vote will take place shortly.

Written statements (Rule 149)

  Cristian Silviu Buşoi (ALDE), in writing. – I would like to express my deep indignation at the murder of the Governor of the province of Punjab in Pakistan, Salman Taseer, on 4 January 2011, for having spoken out against Pakistan’s law against blasphemy. According to the values of our Western societies, murder is considered as the worst single crime. It is, therefore, difficult to understand how someone can commit murder as a form of retaliation. Freedom of conscience and freedom of religion are as important as freedom of speech, which may lead to conflicts between these freedoms. However, any definition by governments of what is to be considered as blasphemy is an unacceptable restriction on freedom of speech. A modern society should consider as legitimate all personal views expressed in an inoffensive manner. Moreover, if Pakistan is to become a tolerant society, such barbarian acts motivated by religious fundamentalism are to be condemned. This incident is yet another reminder that freedom of speech continues to be absent in some regions of the world. Given the history of his country, it was courageous for Salman Taseer to speak out against the blasphemy law and in favour of free speech. It is regrettable that this ultimately cost him his life.

(1) viz zápis.