Debates

Thursday, 7 July 2011 - Strasbourg

India, in particular the death sentence on Davinder Pal Singh (B7-0395/2011)

  Kristiina Ojuland, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Madam President, Professor Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar was extradited from Germany, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, as he has been sentenced to death in India. Despite the fact that there have no executions in India since 2004, the Member States of the European Union must avoid at all costs returning refugees to places where their lives or freedoms could be threatened or they may be subjected to persecution.

I call on the Indian authorities not to carry out any death penalties and to work on upholding the moratorium. India is in a good position to set an example to that part of the world and abolish the death penalty. The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights and should not be used by any democratic coutnry. This cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment cannot be used in the name of justice.