WRITTEN QUESTION E-2594/03 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission. Persecution of Christians.
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Christian, EU relations, bilateral relations, freedom of religious beliefs, human rights, political cooperation, religious discrimination, third country

C 88 E/104

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2593/03

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 August 2003)

Subject: Persecution of Christians in Pakistan

Is the Commission aware of the persecution faced by Christians in Pakistan? What representations has it
made, or will it make, on this issue to the Government of Pakistan?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

The Commission remains deeply concerned over a number of human rights issues in Pakistan and is
actively participating in joint EU efforts to address these questions. The EU has regularly used available
opportunities to discuss the situation of religious minorities with the Pakistan authorities. Human rights
issues are also raised during the political dialogue between Pakistan and the EU including at the recent
meeting in Islamabad on 7 June 2003.

The EU has repeatedly called for more protection of Christian and other minorities in Pakistan. The
Commission is aware that a number of incidents involving the Christian community have occurred over
the last two years, in particular an attack on the office of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in
Karachi, the killing of Christian worshippers at churches in Bhawalpur and Islamabad and atrocities
committed against Christian institutions in Murree and Taxila. The Commission is also aware of numerous
incidents of sectarian violence against other minorities including Ahmadis and Shias. The EU will continue
to urge the Pakistan authorities to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and to take adequate
measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

The EU has also repeatedly raised concerns about the blasphemy laws, which have been disproportionally
applied towards religious minorities (although in absolute terms the clear majority of those accused under
the laws belong to the Muslim faith). The Commission will continue to call on the Government of Pakistan
to take all possible measures to prevent the abuse of the blasphemy laws while they remain in force, in
order to ensure persons accused of blasphemy are protected, and to strengthen institutional and legal
safeguards.

The EU welcomed President Musharraf’s speech of 12 January 2002 in which he condemned all forms of
sectarianism and religious hatred and made the case for a moderate and tolerant Islam. Although there are
no legal restrictions on religion practice by minorities, large parts of the population remain uneducated
and ignorant of this state of affairs. The Community, in its development co-operation, therefore prioritises
improved access to secular education within the framework of the country’s education policy. In the
medium term better education should lead to more tolerant attitudes towards minorities.

(2004/C 88 E/0109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2594/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(14 August 2003)

Subject: Persecution of Christians

One of my constituents highlighted the ongoing persecution of Christians around the world, giving
examples in Laos and in Cambodia where five Christian families who, having been ordered to leave their
province, continue to face threats and intimidation in attempts to force them to abandon their faith.

What is the Commission doing in its relations with countries outside the EU to promote and practise
religious tolerance?

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/105

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2003)

The Commission attaches great importance to the rights of freedom of religion, belief and expression in its
dialogues with third countries. Freedom of
the
fundamental human rights and as such is enshrined in a number of international instruments including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18), the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (Article 18) and the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 9). In addition, the Charter of
fundamental rights of the European Union, which guides the Commission’s external action in this field,
makes clear that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 10) and
that cultural, religious and linguistic diversity should be respected.

thought, conscience, religion and belief

is one of

The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation must form an integral part of
all political dialogues with third countries. Religious freedom as a fundamental human right as well as the
rights of religious minorities are thus addressed through the Union’s bilateral political dialogues, and, when
appropriate, through démarches and public declarations, as well as through Union action in fora such as
the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights or the Third Committee of the UN General
Assembly.

As regards the situation in Laos, the Commission is aware of reports that freedom of religious expression
including reports of members of Christian groups being persecuted and/or
remains restricted in Laos,
detained on grounds of their religious affiliation.

This is done despite the fact that the Constitution stipulates ‘the right and freedom to believe or not to
believe in religion’. The level of tolerance of religious practice varies between regions. Some reports
mention difficulties for religious groups seeking to establish new places of worship in particular provinces.
In other parts of the country both Catholic and Protestant followers are able to worship openly.

The Commission follows this and other matters relating to human rights in Laos closely and concerns are
frequently raised in bilateral meetings between the Commission and Laos. The Commission also
participates fully in all Union démarches to convey our concerns to the Laotian authorities.

As regards Cambodia, there have been less incidences of reports of difficulties faced by religious groups or
persons. In his latest report, religious freedom has not been listed by the Special Representative of the
United Nations Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia as one of the major issues of concern in
the country.

(2004/C 88 E/0110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2604/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 August 2003)

Subject: Protection of excavations at ancient Salamis, Cyprus

Professor V. Karageorghis of the Department of Antiquities in Cyprus, who carried out excavations at
ancient Salamis in collaboration with the French archaeological expedition before the invasion of the
is excavating at ancient Salamis without having
island, claims that a Turkish professor, S. Ozgurel,
obtained authorisation from the previous excavators. Since, firstly, it is international practice to obtain
permission from the previous excavator and, secondly, Turkey has been a signatory since 1965 to the
Hague Convention, Article 5 of which expressly prohibits any archaeological work on territory occupied
by foreign forces without the consent of the lawful government of the country, will the Commission say
what representations it will make to the Turkish Cypriot authorities to stop these illegal excavations?