On Thursday 29 April, MEPs called on Pakistan to review its blasphemy laws and their implementation with a view to repealing them.
In the joint resolution adopted by The Left, Greens/EFA, S&D, Renew Europe, EPP, and ECR groups (681 votes in favour, 3 against and 6 abstentions), MEPs express concern about the continued abuse of these laws, which are “incompatible with international human rights law”, “which exacerbates existing religious divides and therefore creates a climate of religious intolerance, violence and discrimination”.
Pakistan must respect and uphold the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and freedom of expression throughout the country, says the European Parliament.
Parliament calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, who were sentenced to death in 2014 for blasphemy for allegedly sending a text message insulting the Prophet Mohammed. It demands that their death sentences be overturned and that they be given immediate access to medical care.
MEPs believe that the EU should review “as soon as possible” Pakistan’s eligibility to participate in GSP+ and determine whether there are sufficient grounds to initiate a procedure to temporarily withdraw the country’s eligibility to participate and benefit from it.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/3nAV1GC (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)