Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
444. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who is subject to the death penalty after a conviction for blasphemy and is now in solitary confinement in prison appealing their sentence; if a protest has been made to the Government of Pakistan; if the matter has been raised at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43026/14]
View answerThe Government remains very concerned about this case, particularly following the recent decision of the High Court of Lahore to uphold this person’s conviction. Our concern at the conviction and sentence was first conveyed by the Irish Ambassador accredited to Pakistan (from Ankara, Turkey) to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad in 2013. The Ambassador also expressed our disquiet at the nature of Pakistan’s blasphemy law. Last week, on 6 November, our Ambassador to Pakistan visited Islamabad. In the course of his meetings there, he raised this case with a senior Foreign Ministry representative, noting that her case is a matter of grave public concern in Ireland. Officials in my Department also keep in regular contact with the Embassy of Pakistan on this and other issues. We recently raised the case, and our concerns regarding the blasphemy laws and persecution of Christians generally, with the Embassy of Pakistan.
Pakistan underwent a ‘Universal Periodic Review’ of the human rights situation in the country at the United Nations Human Rights Council in October 2012. At this review, concern was expressed about this case and calls were made for Pakistan to consider adopting an official moratorium on the death penalty. During the process, Ireland recommended that Pakistan take all appropriate measures to combat and prevent discrimination against religious and other minority groups, including by removing educational material which could serve to perpetuate discrimination.
At EU level, freedom of religion or belief and freedom of opinion and expression play a central role in the EU’s dialogue with Pakistan. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union, Catherine Ashton has expressed her concerns at the judgment, and others like it, on numerous occasions, and has called on Pakistan to respect human rights as guaranteed under international conventions.
In June 2014, the EU issued a Declaration on violence against women in Pakistan, expressing deep concern at the wide-spread violence perpetrated against women there.
The fifth meeting of the EU-Pakistan Joint Commission, which reviews EU-Pakistan bilateral relations annually, met in Islamabad on 24 June 2014. On human rights, the EU, while acknowledging efforts of the Government of Pakistan to strengthen human rights infrastructure in the country, expressed its concern on a number of issues including freedom of the media, freedom of religion and belief and the situation of women.
On 18 October last, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service expressed sadness and deep concern at the High Court decision to uphold this person’s conviction, and called on Pakistan to ensure for all its citizens, full respect of human rights as guaranteed by international conventions to which it is party. The spokesperson further noted that the EU considers the death penalty a cruel and inhumane punishment and expressed the hope that the verdict would be appealed to the Supreme Court and struck down swiftly.
The issue of the death penalty in Pakistan and this case were also the subject of a statement made on behalf of the EU High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 22 October last. In the course of that Statement, it was noted that the EU, and particularly its Delegation in Islamabad, would continue to follow the case closely and would continue to advocate for the verdict to be overturned and for the person concerned to be released. While not trying to intervene in an ongoing court case, the Statement noted that the EU would use any opportunity to raise this case and the wider issues of the death penalty and blasphemy law, with Pakistan.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr Stavros Lambrinidis also visited Pakistan at the end of last month, where he held an in depth dialogue with the Pakistan authorities on key human rights issues.
Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. We are aware of the vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious minorities in Pakistan and will continue to raise this case and others bilaterally with the Pakistan Government as well as through the framework and mechanisms of the European Union and the United Nations.
