Slamming Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, the European parliament has alleged that they “incite harassment, violence and murder against those being accused’, and expressed concern about the health and wellbeing of a Pakistani couple sentenced to death on blasphemy charges in 2014.

Noting that Pakistan’s ‘controversial’ blasphemy laws, despite never having led to official executions,” incite harassment, violence and murder against those being accused’, the parliament called on the authorities  in the country to release  Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar immediately and unconditionally and to overturn their death sentence.

In a resolution, the parliament dubbed the couple’s conviction as “based on deeply flawed evidence”.

 “Since their conviction, based on deeply flawed evidence, they have been held captive and isolated from each other and their families, while their appeal process has been postponed repeatedly,” the resolution said.

It appealed to European nations to issue emergency visas and offer international protection to the couple, as well as for their lawyer Saiful Malook and others that stand accused for peacefully exercising their rights.

“Should they need to leave Pakistan, EU countries must issue emergency visas and offer international protection to the couple, as well as for their lawyer Saiful Malook and others that stand accused for peacefully exercising their rights,” said the resolution, that was adopted with 681 votes in favour, three against with six abstentions.

(SAM)