WRITTEN QUESTION E-0411/04 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE)and John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Bangladesh.
Date: 2004-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bangladesh, EU relations, Muslim, human rights, international relations, rights of minorities, the EU's international role

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/183

(2004/C 88 E/0189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0411/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE)
and John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Bangladesh

Mindful of the amendment of the 2003 Human Rights Report concerning the Pakistani governments
inaction over the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in that country, the Parliament called on the Pakistani
government to prevent any further persecution of this minority in the future.

In light of this 2003 Human Rights Report amendment, is the Commission aware that the government of
Bangladesh has similarly been appeasing extreme religious groups, who have initiated a campaign of
persecution against the Ahmadi Muslim community?

If so, what action will the Commission take to prevent a repetition of what happened in Pakistan in 1974
(i.e. bowing to the demands of fanatical groups resulting in over three decades of sustained persecution
and murder of the Ahmadi Muslims and destruction of mosques) from occurring in Bangladesh today?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2004)

Both the Commission and the Member States are very concerned by the deteriorating human rights
situation of minorities in Bangladesh,
including the Ahmadia Muslims. Following the attacks on the
Ahmadia Muslim community at the end of 2003, a local EU Troika called on the Government on
23 December 2003 to express the EU’s concerns regarding the violation of minority rights.

As the promotion of democratic principles and the respect for human rights constitute essential elements
of the Commission’s relations with the country, it intends to raise the issue at the next Commission-
Bangladesh Joint Commission Subgroup meeting, tentatively scheduled in May 2004. Such meetings
provide a formal platform for a structured dialogue on Human Rights and Governance issues. Furthermore,
the Commission expects the international donor community to voice its concerns at the next annual
Bangladesh Development Forum, also to be held in May 2004.

The Commission also plans to increase its support to specific human rights and governance activities in
2005 and 2006, in the framework of the review of the National Indicative Programme for Bangladesh.
At the same time, it continues to monitor very closely the human rights situation through its Delegation in
Dhaka.

(2004/C 88 E/0190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0413/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE)
and Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Migrating birds and Habitat Directives with regard to the republic of Malta

In May of this year Malta will be joining the European Union. It is alleged that Malta is making little effort
to enforce the EU Bird and Habitat directives. The bi-annual slaughter of exhausted migrating birds of prey
continues unabated.

Will the Commission join Parliament in condemning Malta for its stance on this important issue and take
effective action to ensure that the Maltese authorities fulfil their obligations in the area of nature protection
and animal welfare?