BETA


2021/2647(RSP) Resolution on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 144

Events

2021/04/29
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2021/04/29
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 681 votes to 3, with 6 abstentions, a resolution on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR and The Left, groups.

Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws have been in place in their present form since 1986, punishing blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad with death or life imprisonment. Despite never having led to official executions, the law incites harassment, violence and murder against those being accused.

The Pakistani couple Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel were sentenced to death on blasphemy charges in 2014. These charges were based on the alleged sending of text messages insulting the Prophet Muhammad from a phone number registered to Shagufta Kausar to the person accusing the couple of blasphemy. The evidence on which the couple were convicted can be considered deeply flawed given their illiteracy and the fact the phone which was allegedly used to send the messages has not been recovered for investigation.

The couple have been detained in jail pending a court ruling on their appeal against their death sentence.

Parliament expressed its concern for the health and wellbeing of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel and urged the Pakistan authorities to ensure that adequate medical care is immediately provided. It called on the Pakistani authorities to release Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar immediately and unconditionally and to overturn their death sentence. There is concern that the continued abuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan is exacerbating existing religious divides and thus fomenting a climate of religious intolerance, violence and discrimination.

Parliament called on the Pakistani Government to:

- unequivocally condemn incitement to violence and discrimination against religions minorities in the country;

- put in place effective, procedural and institutional safeguards at the investigative, prosecutorial and judicial levels to prevent the abuse of the blasphemy laws pending their abolition;

- commute the sentences of all individuals who are facing the death penalty to ensure that their right to a fair trial, which is internationally recognised and safeguarded in the constitution, is respected.

The EU and its diplomatic personnel are urged to do everything they can to provide protection and support for Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, including by attending trials, requesting prison visits and continuously and resolutely reaching out to the authorities involved in this case.

Member States are called on to facilitate the issuance of emergency visas and to offer international protection for Shagufta Kausar, Shafqat Emmanuel, their lawyer Saiful Malook and others that stand accused for peacefully exercising their rights, including human rights defenders, should they need to leave Pakistan.

Documents
2021/04/29
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2021/04/28
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2021/04/28
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2021/04/28
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2021/04/28
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2021/04/28
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2021/04/28
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2021/04/28
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2021/04/28
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents

Documents

Activities

Votes

Lois sur le blasphème au Pakistan, en particulier le cas de Shagufta Kausar et de Shafqat Emmanuel - Blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel - Blasphemiegesetze in Pakistan, insbesondere der Fall Shagufta Kausar und Shafqat Emmanuel - RC-B9-0254/2021 - Am 1 #

2021/04/29 Outcome: -: 447, +: 213, 0: 34
FR IT PL SE EL CZ DK CY BE NL LV EE MT LU LT HR FI SI SK IE BG AT PT HU RO ES DE
Total
79
74
50
21
20
21
14
6
20
29
8
7
6
6
11
12
14
8
14
13
17
19
19
21
32
59
94
icon: ID ID
73

Czechia ID

2

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Netherlands ID

1

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

2
3
icon: ECR ECR
61

Greece ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Romania ECR

1
icon: The Left The Left
35

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Denmark The Left

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Netherlands The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Ireland The Left

For (1)

Against (2)

Abstain (1)

4

Portugal The Left

2
icon: NI NI
35

Netherlands NI

1

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2

Slovakia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Germany NI

Against (1)

2
icon: Renew Renew
97

Italy Renew

Against (2)

2

Sweden Renew

3

Belgium Renew

4

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Slovakia Renew

2

Ireland Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
73

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

3
icon: S&D S&D
145

Greece S&D

2

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Belgium S&D

3

Latvia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Slovakia S&D

3
icon: PPE PPE
175

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Hungary PPE

Against (1)

1

RC-B9-0254/2021 - Am 12 #

2021/04/29 Outcome: +: 678, 0: 10, -: 8
DE FR IT ES PL RO NL SE HU BE AT PT EL BG FI DK CZ SK LT HR IE LV SI EE MT LU CY
Total
94
79
74
59
50
32
29
21
21
20
19
21
20
17
14
14
21
14
11
12
13
8
8
7
6
6
6
icon: PPE PPE
175

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2
2
icon: S&D S&D
145

Greece S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
97

Italy Renew

2
3

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
73

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: ID ID
73

Netherlands ID

1
3

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
61

Romania ECR

1

Greece ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: The Left The Left
37

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Portugal The Left

4

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Czechia The Left

1

Ireland The Left

Against (2)

4

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: NI NI
35

Germany NI

2

Netherlands NI

1

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2

Lois sur le blasphème au Pakistan, en particulier le cas de Shagufta Kausar et de Shafqat Emmanuel - Blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel - Blasphemiegesetze in Pakistan, insbesondere der Fall Shagufta Kausar und Shafqat Emmanuel - RC-B9-0254/2021 - Proposition de résolution #

2021/04/29 Outcome: +: 681, 0: 6, -: 3
DE FR IT ES PL RO NL SE HU PT CZ BE AT EL BG DK FI SK LT HR IE LV SI EE MT CY LU
Total
92
79
74
59
50
32
28
21
21
21
21
20
19
19
17
14
13
14
11
11
13
8
8
7
6
6
6
icon: PPE PPE
175

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
142

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Finland S&D

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
97

Italy Renew

2
3

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: ID ID
72

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Belgium ID

2
3

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
60

Greece ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: The Left The Left
38

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Belgium The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Ireland The Left

Against (2)

4

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: NI NI
34

Germany NI

2

Netherlands NI

1

Slovakia NI

2

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

1

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/8
date
2021-04-29T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0157_EN.html title: T9-0157/2021
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/1/summary
  • The European Parliament adopted by 681 votes to 3, with 6 abstentions, a resolution on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel.
  • The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR and The Left, groups.
  • Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws have been in place in their present form since 1986, punishing blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad with death or life imprisonment. Despite never having led to official executions, the law incites harassment, violence and murder against those being accused.
  • The Pakistani couple Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel were sentenced to death on blasphemy charges in 2014. These charges were based on the alleged sending of text messages insulting the Prophet Muhammad from a phone number registered to Shagufta Kausar to the person accusing the couple of blasphemy. The evidence on which the couple were convicted can be considered deeply flawed given their illiteracy and the fact the phone which was allegedly used to send the messages has not been recovered for investigation.
  • The couple have been detained in jail pending a court ruling on their appeal against their death sentence.
  • Parliament expressed its concern for the health and wellbeing of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel and urged the Pakistan authorities to ensure that adequate medical care is immediately provided. It called on the Pakistani authorities to release Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar immediately and unconditionally and to overturn their death sentence. There is concern that the continued abuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan is exacerbating existing religious divides and thus fomenting a climate of religious intolerance, violence and discrimination.
  • Parliament called on the Pakistani Government to:
  • - unequivocally condemn incitement to violence and discrimination against religions minorities in the country;
  • - put in place effective, procedural and institutional safeguards at the investigative, prosecutorial and judicial levels to prevent the abuse of the blasphemy laws pending their abolition;
  • - commute the sentences of all individuals who are facing the death penalty to ensure that their right to a fair trial, which is internationally recognised and safeguarded in the constitution, is respected.
  • The EU and its diplomatic personnel are urged to do everything they can to provide protection and support for Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, including by attending trials, requesting prison visits and continuously and resolutely reaching out to the authorities involved in this case.
  • Member States are called on to facilitate the issuance of emergency visas and to offer international protection for Shagufta Kausar, Shafqat Emmanuel, their lawyer Saiful Malook and others that stand accused for peacefully exercising their rights, including human rights defenders, should they need to leave Pakistan.
docs/8
date
2021-04-29T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0157_EN.html title: T9-0157/2021
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/1
date
2021-04-29T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0157_EN.html title: T9-0157/2021
events/2
date
2021-04-29T00:00:00
type
End of procedure in Parliament
body
EP
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting plenary debate/vote
New
Procedure completed
events/0/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2021-04-29-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
docs
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0253_EN.html title: B9-0253/2021 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0254_EN.html title: B9-0254/2021 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0255_EN.html title: B9-0255/2021 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0256_EN.html title: B9-0256/2021 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0257_EN.html title: B9-0257/2021 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0258_EN.html title: B9-0258/2021 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0259_EN.html title: B9-0259/2021 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2021-04-28T00:00:00 docs: url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2021-0254_EN.html title: RC-B9-0254/2021 type: Joint motion for resolution
events
  • date: 2021-04-29T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP
forecasts
  • date: 2021-04-29T00:00:00 title: Debate in plenary scheduled
  • date: 2021-04-29T00:00:00 title: Vote in plenary scheduled
procedure/title
Old
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel
New
Resolution on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel