MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on India: Execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru and its implications

21.5.2013 - (2013/2640(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 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Graham Watson, Phil Bennion, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Louis Michel, Marietje Schaake, Leonidas Donskis, Marielle de Sarnez, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Sonia Alfano, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Sarah Ludford, Kristiina Ojuland, Robert Rochefort on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0237/2013

B7‑0242/2013

European Parliament resolution on India: Execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru and its implications

(2013/2640(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-          having regard to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007 calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 63/168 calling on the implementation of the 2007 General Assembly resolution 62/149 adopted by the UNGA on 18 December 2008,

 

-          having regard to the final declaration adopted by the 4^th World Congress against the Death Penalty, held in Geneva from 24 to 26 February 2010, which calls for universal abolition of the death penalty,

 

-          having regard to its previous resolutions, on the abolition of the death penalty,

 

-          having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A.      whereas the European Union is strongly committed to work towards the abolition of the death penalty everywhere and is striving to achieve universal acceptance of this principle,

 

B.     Whereas according to Amnesty International, in 2012 at least 679 new death sentences were imposed in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

C.     Whereas Mohammad Afzal Guru was sentenced to death in 2005.

 

1.      Reiterates its long standing opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances and calls once again for all countries in this region and elsewhere to implement an immediate moratorium on executions in those countries where the death penalty is still applied;

 

2.      Condemns the government of India’s secret execution of Afzal Guru at New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on 9^th February 2013 and considers it unacceptable that Afzal Guru’s wife and other family members were not informed of his imminent execution.

 

3.      Calls on the Government of India, as well as neighbouring states that have not done so, to adopt legislation introducing a permanent moratorium on executions with the goal of abolishing the death penalty in the near future;

 

4.      Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Secretary-General of the UN, the President of the UN General Assembly, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the President, Government and Parliament of India and the Indian Parliament.