Questions about and appeal for Pakistani couple Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, both of whom have been unjustly sentenced to death
10.2.2021
Question for written answer E-000821/2021
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Peter van Dalen (PPE), Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), Joachim Kuhs (ID)
Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, a Pakistani couple, have been sentenced to death by a court in Pakistan on false charges. They are accused of violating the country’s blasphemy laws. Their appeal at a higher court has been postponed several times, and they are meanwhile being held in prison.
- 1.Is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) aware of the appeal of the aforementioned couple and has he been informed that it has been postponed several times and that they are being held in prison on unjust and false accusations?
- 2.The new date for the appeal is 15 February 2021. Can the VP/HR tell the Pakistani authorities that this appeal finally should go on, that the verdict must be ‘not guilty’ and that the country’s blasphemy laws must be abolished?
- 3.Given the blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the unjustified treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan that they lead to, is the VP/HR considering ending the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus preferences for Pakistan? If not, why not?
Supporter[1]
- [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Carlo Fidanza (ECR)
Last updated: 1 March 2021