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Human Rights Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 May 2012

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Ceisteanna (59, 60)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

59 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the case of blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng in discussions with his European partners; if he has individually or together with his European partners made representations to the Chinese authorities seeking reassurances in relation to the well being of Chen Guangcheng and his family; if he has further sought the release of this man from house arrest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22466/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The case of Chen Guangcheng has been raised frequently by the European Union including at the EU-China human rights dialogue on 16 June 2011. Mr. Chen, a blind human rights defence lawyer was, until recently, being held under house arrest in Shandong Province in China. Currently, reports indicate that he escaped from house arrest last week, was at the US Embassy in Beijing for a number of days and was yesterday admitted to a medical facility in Beijing where he is receiving treatment.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

60 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan under that country’s blasphemy law, either individually or collectively with his European partners seeking reassurances that she will not be executed and indeed made representations seeking her release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22467/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The Government remains concerned about the case of Mrs. Asia Bibi. In November 2010 a Punjab court found Mrs. Bibi guilty of blasphemy, sentencing her to death by hanging. This is the first time that a woman has been sentenced to death in Pakistan under its blasphemy law. When the case came to the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ambassador accredited to Pakistan at the time called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad to convey our concern at the conviction and sentence. He also expressed our disquiet at the nature of Pakistan's blasphemy law. Since that time, a number of representations have been made to the Embassy of Pakistan by senior officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mrs. Bibi's case and Pakistan's blasphemy laws were discussed at length during bilateral political consultations in Dublin in 2011 which were held with the Pakistani Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe. In the course of these consultations our concerns about the conviction, sentence and the nature of Pakistan's blasphemy laws were again strongly expressed. At the European level, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, has also expressed her concerns at the Bibi judgement and others like it, and called on Pakistan to respect human rights as guaranteed under international conventions to which it is a party.

The EU engages in regular dialogue with Pakistan on human rights and democratic principles, including religious discrimination. The EU has called on the Pakistani authorities, at the highest level, to adopt measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions. The EU has made clear to the Government of Pakistan that under its constitutional and international requirements it has a responsibility to protect its citizens regardless of their faith.

Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief. We are well aware of the vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious minorities in Pakistan and will continue to raise the case of Asia Bibi and others bilaterally with the Pakistan Government as well as through the framework and mechanisms of the European Union and the United Nations.

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