NGOs press VP Josep Borrell to review Pakistan’s GSP+ status

Memorandum 

To: Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission 

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Photo : Andy Vermaut delivering the letter in the name of the 21 signatories

Signatories:

Alliance Internationale des Droits et des Libertés (AIDL):

http://www.aidl.eu/fr/quisommesnous.html

All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief in UK (APPG): https://appgfreedomofreligionorbelief.org

ARCHumankind: https://archumankind.com

Baloch Human Rights Council: https://balochhumanrightscouncil.com

Bitter Winter: https://bitterwinter.org

British Pakistani Christians Ltd: https://www.britishpakistanichristians.org

CAP Liberté de Conscience: https://freedomofconscience.eu

Center for Studies on Freedom of Religion Belief and Conscience (LIREC) : https://lirec.net

European Association for The Defense of Minorities (EADM): https://bit.ly/3zc4mbV

Forum for Religious Freedom Europe (FOREF): http://foref-europe.org

Free Nadeem Samson Campaign: https://gofund.me/9faf6008

Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF): https://hrwf.eu

International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue: https://www.icdd.info

International Human Rights Committee: https://www.hrcommittee.org

International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF): https://www.iirf.eu

Minority Concern: https://minorityconcern.wixsite.com/mcpakistan

Noodt Foundation: https://gerardnoodtfoundation.org

International Organisation to Preserve Human Rights: https://preservehumanrights.org

PostVersa Fundamental Rights Chapter: https://postversa.weebly.com/

Set My People Free: http://freedom2worship.org

Soteria International: http://www.soteriainternational.org

Date: September 15th, 2021 

Subject: Human Rights: NGOs press VP Josep Borrell to review Pakistan’s GSP+ status 

A conference at the Press Club, Brussels, on September 9th, called for the EU institutions to act in the case of Pakistan’s continued human rights abuses, in particular in regards to the country’s blasphemy laws, and the lack of respect for the presumption of innocence. 

Specifically, and in regard to article 12 of the Joint Motion For A Resolution (RC-B9-0254/2021) of April 28th 2021, passed by 681 votes, “to immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of current events and whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of this status and the benefits that come with it, and to report to the European Parliament on this matter as soon as possible;” 

The conference heard that of the benefits given as a result of the current agreement with Pakistan, around 20% only accrued to the EU, causing, in the opinion of the conference, no significant potential detrimental economic impact on the EU or the member states. 

The imposition of the mandatory death sentence for those found guilty of blasphemy against the prophet, particularly in the context of such charges having recently been levelled at an eight year old child, makes, in the opinion of the conference, the current GSP+ status enjoyed by Pakistan morally and politically untenable. 

During the conference, the names of 47 prisoners currently held on blasphemy charges: Mubashir Ahmed; Gulab Ahmed; Ahtesham Ahmed; Zahid Ahmed; Ahmed Waqar; Anwar; Islam; Mailik Ashraf; Anwar Ashgar; Ahmed Ashgar; Noor Ashgar; Malik Ashraf; Kausar Ayub; Amud Ayub; Taimur; Siya; Raza; Zafar Bati; Md. Safi; Md. Shehzad; Rehmat Ali; Asif; Md. Aslam; Arif Mehdi; Junaid; Hafeez; Abdul Hamid; Md. Faruq; Hayai Bin; Malik; Md. Humayan Faysal; Aftab Mastargil; Nadeem James; Arif Massih; Saudi Issaq; Abdul Karim; Imran Massih; Yakub; Ishfaq Massih; Saba Massih; Bashir; Mastan Mushtaq; Shamsuddin; Md. Yussaf; Inayat Rasool; Iqbal and Md. Aslam. The list comprises Ahmediyyas, Shias, Hindus, and Christians. 

Sixteen of the above have been handed a death sentence. 

Accordingly, we wish to ask the High Representative - who has previously stated that suspension of Pakistan’s GSP+ status is a measure of “last resorts” - what his current position is in this regard. 

Also, given that Pakistan’s behaviour clearly contravenes the requirement for GSP+ beneficiaries to ratify 27 international conventions, numerous it is clearly in breach of, how the High Representative could justify the continuation of Pakistan’s GSP+ status? 

We look forwards to receiving your response, at the address of: Human Rights Without Frontiers, Avenue d’Auderghem 61, Box 16, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Telephone: +32-478202069

international.secretariat.brussels@hrwf.org