WRITTEN QUESTION E-1366/02 by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Pakistani blasphemy law.
Date: 2002-05-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Pakistan, cruel and degrading treatment, defamation, human rights, national law

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/99

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(29 July 2002)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to the speech which I gave in my capacity as the
Commissioner responsible for Personnel and Administration to the Committee on Legal Affairs on 21 May
2002.

A copy of my 21 May statement is transmitted directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s
Secretariat.

Neither the Commission nor I are aware that anything relevant to Mr Smidt happened over the weekend of
19-21 April 2002.

Neither the Commission nor I are aware of the existence of anything called a ‘transfer list for Directors
General on 19 April 2002.’

The Commission also refers the Honourable Member to the 3rd point of the joint answer given to written
questions E-1430/02 from Mr Meijer and E-1563/02 from Mr Corbett (1).

(1) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 122.

(2003/C 28 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1361/02

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(14 May 2002)

Subject: Negotiations with the applicant countries in the area of justice and home affairs

1. With which applicant countries have negotiations on the chapter on justice and home affairs been
concluded, and with which applicant countries are negotiations still open?

Have any applicant countries requested transitional periods for the chapter on justice and home

2.
affairs?

3.

If so, for which areas were transitional periods requested?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 2002)

The Justice and Home Affairs chapter has been provisionally closed with Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Slovakia.

None of the countries requested transitional periods.

Negotiations are still open with Bulgaria, Poland and Romania.

(2003/C 28 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1366/02

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 May 2002)

Subject: Pakistani ‘blasphemy’ law

Two men are currently being held in Pakistani prisons accused under the ‘blasphemy’ law. The first man,
Mr Parvez Masih, has reportedly been tortured and is under constant threat of further violence.

C 28 E/100

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

The second man has been subjected to extra-judicial threats on his life and was shot inside the Sahiwal
Sessions Court by the complainant.

In mosques in Pakistan, it is taught that ‘blasphemers’ deserve to be killed immediately and that protecting
one is as bad as blaspheming oneself.

This law has lent itself to severe abuse: it is apparently possible to eliminate a business rival by claiming
that he ‘blasphemed’.

General Musharraf is believed to want to repeal or, at all events, revise this law, but it is feared that the
extremist lobby may make it difficult for him.

Does the Commission agree that this law poses problems for human rights?

Does the Commission believe that the Pakistan Government should be put under pressure to revise these
laws?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2002)

The Commission remains concerned about the continued application of the blasphemy law in Pakistan.

It would appear that the blasphemy law is applied arbitrarily and basic standards of due process are often
not met. In addition, a disproportionate number of cases are brought against non-Muslims, often of the
basis on denunciations (approximately 70 % of all cases of blasphemy concern Muslims, meaning that 30 %
of all cases relate to the small non-Muslim community of 3 %). It should be said, however, that according
to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) active in the
human rights field, all six verdicts handed out in 2001 under the main blasphemy provision were directed
against Muslims.

On the occasion of a human rights conference organised by the Government of Pakistan in April 2000, a
procedural reform of the blasphemy law was announced. However, following protests by religious groups
the government withdrew the proposal.

The Commission is actively participating in joint Union efforts to address human rights issues in Pakistan
as part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Within this framework, the Commission will continue
to address questions of concern,
including the blasphemy law. The new Community (cid:1) Pakistan Co-
operation Agreement, which contains a clause on human rights and democratic principles, will offer, once
it has entered into force, the possibility to re-establish the full co-operation dialogue with Pakistan,
including on sensitive human rights issues.

(2003/C 28 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1377/02

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Freedom of association in Romania

(14 May 2002)

The Romanian authorities have publicly stated on several occasions that ‘regionally based’ political parties
will be declared unconstitutional. In 1998, a Cluj court for the same reasons outlawed even a foundation
called Transylvania Foundation.

Is the Commission of the opinion that this kind of attitudes may violate the right to freedom of
association? Has the Commission asked for any explanation to the Romanian authorities? If not, is the
Commission going to intervene?

Does the Commission consider that such a decision is compatible with the respect of the democratic
criteria established in Copenhagen?