BETA


2015/2766(RSP) Resolution on the situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 144

Events

2015/07/09
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2015/07/09
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2015/07/09
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 85 votes to 0, with 1 abstention, a resolution on the situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA, EFDD groups.

Parliament called on the Sudanese authorities to drop all charges against Pastor Michael Yat and Pastor Peter Yen Reith and called for their immediate and unconditional release. It called on the Government of Sudan to ensure that pending their release the two pastors are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment and that their physical and mental integrity is duly respected.

Pastor Michael Yat of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church was taken into custody by the Sudanese National Intelligence Service (NISS) after preaching at the Khartoum North Church, a branch of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, during a visit to Sudan on 21 December 2014. Pastor Peter Yen Reith was arrested on 11 January 2015 after delivering a letter to the Sudanese Religious Affairs Office asking after Pastor Michael and wanting to know more about his arrest.

Both men were held incommunicado until 1 March 2015, and on 4 May 2015 both were charged with multiple offences under the Sudanese Penal Code of 1991, including amongst others, waging war against the state and espionage. These charges carry the death penalty in the event of a guilty verdict.

Parliament asked the EU Delegation to Sudan to monitor the court proceedings and provide assistance to the pastors. It also called on the EU to exercise leadership in highlighting and condemning the serious and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the country.

Recalling the Sudanese authorities of their obligations at national and international level to protect freedom of religion and belief, Members called on the Sudanese Government to:

repeal all legislation that discriminates on the grounds of religion and to protect the identity of minority groups, including those of all faiths; condemn the harassment of Christians and interference in church affairs; reform the country’s legal system, in accordance with international human rights standards.

Expressing grave concern about the increase in the repression of members of the opposition , Parliament expressed its support for the efforts being made, notably by the UN, the EU, the African Union and the troika (Norway, the UK and the US), to reach a negotiated solution to the situation in Sudan and support the endeavours of civil society and the opposition parties to promote an inclusive peace process.

Documents
2015/07/09
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2015/07/07
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2015/07/07
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2015/07/07
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2015/07/07
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2015/07/07
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2015/07/07
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2015/07/07
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents

Documents

Activities

Votes

RC-B8-0707/2015 - Résolution #

2015/07/09 Outcome: +: 85, 0: 1
IT GB ES PL RO DE CZ BE FR NL SK HR PT AT LT EE IE HU
Total
14
11
10
8
7
6
5
4
5
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
icon: PPE PPE
17

Italy PPE

1

Germany PPE

2

France PPE

2

Netherlands PPE

For (1)

1

Slovakia PPE

For (1)

1

Ireland PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
17

Germany S&D

For (1)

1

Belgium S&D

For (1)

1

Portugal S&D

2

Austria S&D

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
13
icon: ALDE ALDE
11
2

Romania ALDE

For (1)

1

Czechia ALDE

2

Belgium ALDE

For (1)

1

Netherlands ALDE

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Lithuania ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
10

Germany ECR

For (1)

1

Belgium ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
8

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Germany Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

France Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Hungary Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
7

Italy GUE/NGL

1

Germany GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

1
icon: ENF ENF
3

Italy ENF

For (1)

1

Belgium ENF

For (1)

1

France ENF

Abstain (1)

1

History

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  • date: 2015-07-09T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20150709&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2015-0280 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0280/2015 body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
committees
    docs
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    • date: 2015-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2015-0709&language=EN title: B8-0709/2015 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2015-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2015-0711&language=EN title: B8-0711/2015 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2015-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2015-0713&language=EN title: B8-0713/2015 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
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    • date: 2015-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P8-RC-2015-0707&language=EN title: RC-B8-0707/2015 type: Joint motion for resolution
    events
    • date: 2015-07-09T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=26039&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2015-07-09T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20150709&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
    • date: 2015-07-09T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2015-0280 title: T8-0280/2015 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 85 votes to 0, with 1 abstention, a resolution on the situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan. The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA, EFDD groups. Parliament called on the Sudanese authorities to drop all charges against Pastor Michael Yat and Pastor Peter Yen Reith and called for their immediate and unconditional release. It called on the Government of Sudan to ensure that pending their release the two pastors are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment and that their physical and mental integrity is duly respected. Pastor Michael Yat of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church was taken into custody by the Sudanese National Intelligence Service (NISS) after preaching at the Khartoum North Church, a branch of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, during a visit to Sudan on 21 December 2014. Pastor Peter Yen Reith was arrested on 11 January 2015 after delivering a letter to the Sudanese Religious Affairs Office asking after Pastor Michael and wanting to know more about his arrest. Both men were held incommunicado until 1 March 2015, and on 4 May 2015 both were charged with multiple offences under the Sudanese Penal Code of 1991, including amongst others, waging war against the state and espionage. These charges carry the death penalty in the event of a guilty verdict. Parliament asked the EU Delegation to Sudan to monitor the court proceedings and provide assistance to the pastors. It also called on the EU to exercise leadership in highlighting and condemning the serious and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the country. Recalling the Sudanese authorities of their obligations at national and international level to protect freedom of religion and belief, Members called on the Sudanese Government to: repeal all legislation that discriminates on the grounds of religion and to protect the identity of minority groups, including those of all faiths; condemn the harassment of Christians and interference in church affairs; reform the country’s legal system, in accordance with international human rights standards. Expressing grave concern about the increase in the repression of members of the opposition , Parliament expressed its support for the efforts being made, notably by the UN, the EU, the African Union and the troika (Norway, the UK and the US), to reach a negotiated solution to the situation in Sudan and support the endeavours of civil society and the opposition parties to promote an inclusive peace process.
    • date: 2015-07-09T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
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      http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20150709&type=CRE
      type
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      title
      Debate in Parliament
      activities/0/docs/1/text
      • The European Parliament adopted by 85 votes to 0, with 1 abstention, a resolution on the situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan.

        The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA, EFDD groups.

        Parliament called on the Sudanese authorities to drop all charges against Pastor Michael Yat and Pastor Peter Yen Reith and called for their immediate and unconditional release. It called on the Government of Sudan to ensure that pending their release the two pastors are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment and that their physical and mental integrity is duly respected.

        Pastor Michael Yat of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church was taken into custody by the Sudanese National Intelligence Service (NISS) after preaching at the Khartoum North Church, a branch of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, during a visit to Sudan on 21 December 2014. Pastor Peter Yen Reith was arrested on 11 January 2015 after delivering a letter to the Sudanese Religious Affairs Office asking after Pastor Michael and wanting to know more about his arrest.

        Both men were held incommunicado until 1 March 2015, and on 4 May 2015 both were charged with multiple offences under the Sudanese Penal Code of 1991, including amongst others, waging war against the state and espionage. These charges carry the death penalty in the event of a guilty verdict.

        Parliament asked the EU Delegation to Sudan to monitor the court proceedings and provide assistance to the pastors. It also called on the EU to exercise leadership in highlighting and condemning the serious and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the country.

        Recalling the Sudanese authorities of their obligations at national and international level to protect freedom of religion and belief, Members called on the Sudanese Government to:

        • repeal all legislation that discriminates on the grounds of religion and to protect the identity of minority groups, including those of all faiths;
        • condemn the harassment of Christians and interference in church affairs;
        • reform the country’s legal system, in accordance with international human rights standards.

        Expressing grave concern about the increase in the repression of members of the opposition, Parliament expressed its support for the efforts being made, notably by the UN, the EU, the African Union and the troika (Norway, the UK and the US), to reach a negotiated solution to the situation in Sudan and support the endeavours of civil society and the opposition parties to promote an inclusive peace process.

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          geographical_area
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          7.30.20 Action to combat terrorism