Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, delivered an impassioned speech, urging MEPs to defend the fundamentals of freedom and respect that the EU is based on in the face of populism and global and internal challenges.
He underlined that it is vital for the EU to remain open, both towards the world and among its own member states, despite high geopolitical tensions, which encourage protectionism. “Our problems are common. Protectionism makes you poorer”, Mr Bettel said.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister urged lawmakers to protect freedom of movement and the internal market in upcoming legislation, and called for a “truly common European migration policy” based on the proposed European Asylum and Migration Pact. He also took direct aim at those seeking to undermine the rule of law in the EU and said that it must remain the backbone of the EU, including in the defence of the rights of minorities, which some in the EU try to silence.
On the war in Ukraine, Mr Bettel called on the EU to continue united against “Russia’s unacceptable aggression”, while delivering arms, financial aid, and reconstruction efforts to Ukraine, and accompanying it on the road to eventual EU accession.
Reactions from MEPs
MEPs welcomed Prime Minister Bettel’s commitments to building a more equal Europe, defending the rule of law in the EU, the European Green Deal and institutional reforms related to the upcoming European elections. Some MEPs warned that the EU is at a crossroads, facing the Russian war in Ukraine and called for Europe to have its own, independent military forces and more European sovereignty based on unity, whilst others voiced criticism of Luxembourg’s corporate tax regime.
Two famous Belarusian priests passed under the omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarch – these are Prot. George Roy and Fr. Alexander Kukhta. Their requests were considered by St. Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and were satisfied on the eve of the Annunciation, March 25, based on Rule 10 of the Seventh Ecumenical Council and rules 17 and 18 of the Council of Trullo.
The clerics have said that their priestly conscience does not allow them to continue serving in the Moscow Patriarchate, which justifies a war of conquest in Ukraine and declares the killing of Ukrainians a holy and godly act. The three priests openly disagreed with the violence in Belarus in 2020 and criticized the Lukashenko regime, which forced them to leave the country and seek asylum in Lithuania.
Prot. George Roy, forty-four years old, is an associate professor at the Minsk Theological Academy. Fr. Alexander Kukhta, thirty years old, is the most popular Orthodox video blogger in Belarus, the author of the channel “Batyushka otvetit” with tens of thousands of subscribers.
Both condemn election fraud and mass repression in 2020 and the war in Ukraine in 2022.
Prot. George Roy was close to Grodno Archbishop Artemiy (Kishchenko), who was forcibly removed from his post in 2021. Archbishop. Artemiy was the only bishop of the Belarusian Church who condemned the violence of the Lukashenko regime. In particular, on March 14, 2021, on Farewell Sunday, in his speech at the Intercession Cathedral in Grodno, he said: “It is not typical for the Church to get involved in politics and other issues. But the Church should not be indifferent to everything that is happening. The New Martyrs and the Righteous of our time have always said, “God betrays himself through silence.” To be a Christian is to be a crusader. To begin to fight against one’s own vices, against one’s personal sin, against social disorder, against ecclesiastical problems—this is a heavy cross to bear, sometimes at the sacrifice of oneself.”
The Belarusian Metropolitan Veniamin, exarch of the Russian Patriarch Kirill in Belarus, placed the two clerics under interdiction for passing to the Patriarchate of Constantinople without a letter of absolution.
On Easter this year, the first service for Orthodox Belarusians took place in Vilnius, performed by Belarusian priests of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Hopes are running high of an end to the intense fighting between a Saudi-backed coalition standing alongside Government forces, and Houthi rebels and their allies, which since 2015 has led the near total collapse of the economy, with tens of thousands killed, and 21.6 million in need of humanitarian assistance and protection this year, according to the UN.
“Nevertheless, the country’s fragile health system is severely overburdened and edging closer to collapse”, said Dr. Annette Heinzelmann of the WHO in Yemen, “while international donor funding is insufficient to avert further deterioration of the country’s failing health services.”
She said that around 12.9 million Yemenis have urgent humanitarian healthcare needs, with 540,000 children under five, currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition “with a direct risk of death.”
Some 46 percent of health facilities across the country are only partially functioning or completely out of service, due to shortages of staff, funds, electricity, or medicines.
She told journalists at the regular Friday briefing at the UN in Geneva, that the Yemen humanitarian “Health Cluster”, made up of 46 UN and non-governmental organizations, has received only 62 million – or 16 percent – of the $392 million needed to reach those 12.9 million most-vulnerable people.
“Disease outbreaks – notably of measles, diphtheria, dengue, cholera and polio – are accelerating Yemen’s deepening health crisis. Mass-displacements, overburdened health facilities, disruptions of water and sanitation networks, and low immunization coverage are triggering and spreading these disease outbreaks.”
In the first quarter of this year, more than 13,000 new cases of measles, 8,777 cases of dengue fever, and 2,080 suspected cholera cases were reported. “But the actual numbers are likely much higher”, she warned.
Controlling vector-borne, water-borne, and neglected tropical diseases.
Fighting chronic diseases including diabetes, renal diseases, and cancer.
Maintaining water, sanitation and hygiene services in health facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
Supporting and improving maternal and newborn healthcare
Meeting neglected mental health needs.
Supported by international donors, WHO was able to provide essential medical equipment, supplies, and training in 2022 to around 7.8 million people – that’s around 62 percent of the 12.6 million people targeted under the Humanitarian Response Plan for the year.
She said that WHO also ensured life-saving care for just over 60,000 Yemeni children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, with medical complications.
Dr. Heinzelmann said that WHO and health partners in Yemen “are beginning to see the dire consequences of our severely underfunded efforts to mitigate Yemen’s health crisis.”
She pointed to the expected suspension of support by the Yemen Health Cluster to 23 out of 43 health facilities in the Marib district, which is host to Yemen’s largest population of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In effect, this will effectively stop healthcare services for about 2.8 million most vulnerable people in the area.
Out of money
She said WHO has “almost no funds available to prepare for Yemen’s annual flood season that is starting now and will bring a predictably major upsurge in vector-borne and water-borne disease outbreaks”.
“In closing, I must emphasize the consequences of Yemen becoming a forgotten humanitarian crisis. The Yemeni people are resilient but suffering greatly. More than two of every three Yemenis are dependent on food, medical, and other humanitarian assistance.
“The international community must scale up support to Yemen “to avert untold human suffering and deaths in coming months”, she concluded.
“I am horrified by the toll the clashes are having on civilians”, said Abdou Dieng. “At least 331 people have been killed nationwide, including five aid workers, and nearly 3,200 have been injured.”
The fighting between troops from the national army and a powerful rival militia known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted six days ago, and has had a devastating impact on civilian life and the major on-going humanitarian aid operation across Sudan.
Latest news reports indicate that bombing, shelling and gunfire have continued unabated, especially in the capital Khartoum, and the UN migration agency, IOM, reported on Friday that one of its staff members had become a victim of the violence.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the death of a dedicated IOM Sudan staff member this morning after the vehicle he was traveling in with his family south of El Obeid was caught in a crossfire between two warring parties”, said Director General, António Vitorino.
He said the male staffer leaves behind a wife and newborn child, “and our team in Sudan in mourning.”
“The safety and security of all IOM staff is my number one priority. We continue to work with our UN partners to update our security response”, he assured.
Three workers from the World Food Programme (WFP) lost their lives in North Darfur as the military showdown first began on Saturday.
Mr. Vitorino said the latest outbreak of violence has forced IOM to suspend its humanitarian operations in Sudan.
IOM has operated in Sudan since 2000, responding to the complex humanitarian needs in the country where an estimated 3.7 million people are internally displaced”, the IOM chief continued.
Some 15.8 million people in Sudan, one-third of the population, were in need of humanitarian assistance before this week’s fighting began.
Food, water, healthcare crisis
Mr. Dieng said that even short agreed pauses in the intense fighting between the rival factions, which have so far ignored all calls for a ceasefire, would allow civilians access to essential food and water.
“Access to health facilities is also paramount. Many hospitals have had to close. And in those that are functioning, widespread blackouts and lack of electricity place patients at high risk.”
Several hospitals have simply run out of blood and other lifesaving supplies.
“Assaults on hospitals, humanitarian staff and facilities must stop”, said the Humanitarian Coordinator.
“As we are ending the holy month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a time of peace and reconciliation, I call on all parties to the conflict to immediately end the fighting and work towards a peaceful resolution.”
On Thursday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres made an urgent call for a three-day ceasefire over Eid, as the “first step” towards a permanent cessation of hostilities, noting that humanitarian operations had become “virtually impossible”.
The UN alone has a 4,000-strong team of humanitarian workers, 3,200 of whom are Sudanese nationals.
According to the latest statement from UN aid coordination office OCHA, there have been reports of military strikes against health facilities, hijacking of ambulances with patients and paramedics still on board, looting of health facilities, and military forces occupying health facilities.
Severe shortages grow
In hospitals, there are severe shortages of specialized medical staff, oxygen supplies and blood bags, according to the World Health Organization, WHO, while lack of electricity and blackouts place hospital patients at high risk.
“There are also rapidly rising mental health and psychosocial support needs, especially among children, as the conflict continues”, noted OCHA.
As of Friday morning, heavy gunfire, air strikes and shelling have been reported in different parts of the country, OCHA added, especially in North, Central and South Darfur states, North Kordofan and in the capital, Khartoum.
On 20 April, there were unverified reports of intensified clashes in El Obeid, North Kordofan State, as well as unrest and rising tensions in Gedaref, in eastern Sudan.
“As in all crises, this will surely have dire and disproportionate impacts on the lives of Sudanese women and girls. We stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan and remain committed to supporting them.
“The resilience of Sudanese women is a source of hope, their role in the pursuit of peace essential, their strength as humanitarian workers, carers and protectors an inspiration”, added Ms. Bahous.
“We must heed their calls for a ceasefire and peace and commit to supporting them in everything they do.”
She noted that reports of sexual and gender-based violence were already surfacing, and feared “they will only grow more frequent.”
She called on Government troops and militia to “ensure that no woman or girl is affected by these crimes”.
She insisted that “every instance” of sexual and gender-based violence must be investigated and prosecuted without exception.
“The UN Secretary-General has called for an immediate halt to the fighting to coincide with Eid-Al-Fitr. This will allow the continued delivery of essential humanitarian assistance and a return to dialogue. He has demanded respect for international law. I join his call and urge all parties to commit to a peaceful resolution.”
France has put on trial 11 alleged high-ranking members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), accused of extortion, terrorist financing and propaganda for the organization, AFP reported.
Declared a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey, the PKK has waged a decades-long armed struggle against Ankara for greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority in Turkey’s southeast.
None of the 11 suspects standing trial at the Paris Criminal Court – all Turkish nationals – have admitted membership of the group, which they say has no presence in France.
However, investigators believe that France, along with neighboring EU countries, offers a place for the PKK to operate.
Organized cells are believed to operate among the 150,000 Kurdish residents of France, as well as among the 100,000 people in the Netherlands and the million-strong community in Germany.
The investigation began in 2020 when two Kurdish women, aged 18 and 19, were reported missing in southeastern France.
It soon emerged that they had gone to PKK training camps in other parts of Europe.
Untangling the thread led investigators to a network based around a Kurdish association in Marseille that they say collected a type of public tax known as a “campaign” to fund the PKK.
Testimony and wiretapping reveal harassment and extortion of members of the diaspora, as “tax collectors” assign arbitrary contributions to individuals based on their estimated income.
Some Kurds are voluntarily paying for the “campaign” out of “full agreement” with the PKK, investigators say.
But many of them see it as a “duty” that they do for fear of ostracism or reprisals from the community.
One witness says he was threatened that his legs would be broken.
Investigators estimate that around two million euros ($2.2 million) are collected each year in southeastern France.
They also investigated how young Kurds were “recruited” for the PKK in conditions “close to kidnapping and illegal imprisonment”.
All who undergo “ideological training” in Europe are sent to military-style camps, many in Iraq, and enlisted in fighting forces loyal to the PKK.
Up to 35 million Kurds, who are located on the territory of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey, do not have their own state.
In France, three Kurds were shot dead in December in a Paris public center in a crime that investigators called “racist.”
The hearings are expected to continue until April 14.
A huge meatball made from flesh cultured using the DNA of an extinct woolly mammoth has gone on display at NEMO, a science museum in the Netherlands, Reuters and AFP reported.
It was created by Australian cultured meat company Vow. From there, they say they want to get people talking about cultured meat and present it as a more sustainable alternative to the real thing.
The company insists that the new product is not an April Fool’s joke.
“We wanted to create something completely different from anything you can get now,” Vow founder Tim Noakesmith told Reuters. He explained that the additional reason they chose a mammoth was because scientists believe the extinction of this animal was caused by climate change.
Since the mammoth DNA obtained by the Vow company was incomplete, experts added that from an African elephant.
“Like they do in the movie ‘Jurassic Park,'” adds Vow’s James Ryall, but stresses that the biggest difference is that they’re not creating real animals.
Creating cultured meat usually means using the blood of a dead calf, but Vow uses an alternative, meaning no animals are killed to create the mammoth meatball.
The product, which has an aroma of crocodile meat, is currently not fit for consumption.
“Its protein is literally 4,000 years old. We haven’t seen him in quite a while. That means we want to do rigorous testing – something we practice with every product we bring to market,” said Noakesmith.
The company “Vow” hopes that cultured meat will find a place on the market in the European Union, where, however, there is still no legislation for such products.
“I buy paintings out of passion, never as an investment,” admits the 87-year-old legendary actor
A collection of works of art by French film legend Alain Delon will be auctioned, France Presse and Italian daily La Repubblica reported, citing information from auction house Bonham-Cornet de Saint-Cyr. The works in May and June will be shown in New York, Hong Kong, Geneva, London, and the auction itself under the title “Alain Delon: 60 years of passion” will take place on June 22 in Paris.
The collection contains 81 works and is estimated at 4-5 million euros. It includes paintings, sculptures and drawings from the era of the Italian Renaissance and the French XIX century. Among them are works by Paolo Cagliari, called Veronese, by Eugene Delacroix, Corot, Millet, Raoul Dufy… For example, Dufy’s oil painting La plage de Sainte-Adresse (The Beach of Sainte-Adresse, 1906) is estimated between 600,000 and 800 000 euros, Delacroix’s drawing Cheval arabe attaché à un piquet (“Arabian horse tied to a post”, 1825) – at 400,000-600,000 euros, and that of Veronese – San Giorgio e il drago (“St. George and the Dragon “) – between 40,000 and 60,000 euros, explains exhibition commissioner Arnaud Cornet de Saint-Cyr. According to him, Alain Delon is a great collector with an instinct for art.
The actor bought the first drawing in 1964 in London, when he was 24 years old. “Since then, over the years, I have acquired many picturesque canvases, sculptures, drawings that moved me, that spoke to me, and sometimes comforted me. These works have accompanied me for many years and are part of my life,” says the 87-year-old actor in the catalog for the collection. “I work a lot and all my money was spent on classical art. There are people who prefer to collect cars, I buy paintings. I buy out of passion, never for investment,” Alain Delon stated in 2007 in an interview with the French magazine Monde.
For more than 60 years, Alain Delon has been an avid and discerning art collector. “There are two things I consider my legacy: my acting career and my art collection. I’m very proud of both. People ask me if there is a common thread connecting the works I have bought. I answer them: this is me,” Delon says. Anoushka Delon – the daughter of model-turned-actor Rosalie van Bremen, said: “These wonderful works of art were a part of my childhood and now I’m so happy that the world will discover them. I know that they were my father’s faithful company and that they brought him endless joy.”
In 2016, the star of “Rocco and His Brothers,” “Borsalino,” “Death of a Scoundrel,” “Mr. Klein,” “The Assassination of Trotsky” and dozens of other notable films, sold his collections of crosses, wristwatches , weapons, as well as his collection of bronze sculptures by the Italian sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti, which enjoyed particular interest.
Photo: Alain Delon with his daughter Anushka / ERA
Ms. McGlade spoke to UN News at UN Headquarters, during the 2023 session of the Forum, which takes place between 17 and 28 April.
“I’ve been an activist in my community sine I was young. I decided to study law because I thought that I could help to improve our human rights situation. I was fortunate enough to be able to undertake a master’s degree in international human rights, so I’ve been using it as best I can at international forums, and also advocating for reforms in Australia, because our human rights situation is very dire.
My people, the Noongar, were violently dispossessed from their lands by the British, and were basically enslaved: my great grandmother was an indentured child labourer. People who resisted the very cruel laws of the time were incarcerated and taken from their countries by chains to an island prison, where many died. Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families, en masse, as part of a policy called assimilation.
This is our violent history. As I was growing up, we faced many issues, including racism and the targeting of Aboriginal people, including aboriginal youth, by police; violence against women; refusal of our land rights; and poverty.
Today, there is still a lot of racism in the media and in society. We face serious human rights issues, including the removal of children from their mothers, the high incarceration rates of Aboriginal people, particularly children and young people, in conditions that are very inhumane.
Australia is not the country I grew up in, when openly racist, derogatory language was used. But there’s more coded racism now. For example, the terribly sad issue of Aboriginal child sexual abuse is used as an excuse for removing children from their families.
There’s a lot of resistance to our rights being recognized, even the right to have our own national indigenous body, which should not be argued about in this day and age.
In some ways our rights situation is getting worse, according to the government’s own data. We’re seeing more incarceration of Aboriginal people; more Aboriginal children being removed from their mothers and families, increasingly to non-Indigenous families where they lose their cultural identity; and we’re seeing more Aboriginal suicides as well.
These are the shocking, ongoing impacts of colonization and we know that systemic and institutional racism and discrimination is a key driver of these issues.
The fight for a voice in parliament
There have been some improvements. We are now looking at a national referendum to change the Australian Constitution, to enshrine a democratically elected Aboriginal voice in parliament, that will be consulted and heard on matters affecting Aboriginal people. This would represent a historic, very substantive reform to the Constitution.
I’m really hoping that we are going to make this change. But of course, we are a minority, just four per cent of the population, and a majority of Australians will need to vote in favour of the reform.
We’re also calling on Australia to adopt a national action plan based on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. That was a recommendation of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014, and it still hasn’t happened. Australia cannot claim leadership internationally, without respecting its international commitments in respect to indigenous peoples.
The power of international law
This Forum is a real chance for us to raise indigenous human rights issues with the governments of the world and indigenous peoples of the world listening. Decisions made here may not be binding at a national level, but UN Member States do have an obligation to genuinely engage, and to uphold our rights as indigenous peoples.
Sometimes we have a better chance of influencing domestic reforms in our country by arguing our case before the UN and in UN forums: the UN is still a prestigious international forum that we know that our governments have to respect.
I’ve used UN mechanisms to advance the issue of violence against indigenous women in Australia; for over five years, I went to various UN treaty bodies and highlighted this issue and the failure of the government allocate resources and develop relevant policies. This eventually led to a commitment from the Australian Government to act.
We are a part of the UN and the World Affairs now. With the threat of climate change and our future in the balance, it should be very clear that indigenous peoples have their place in this dialogue.”
The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high- level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum was established to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
In addition to the six mandated areas (economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights), each session is thematically focused on a specific issue.
The Permanent Forum is one of three UN bodies mandated to deal specifically with indigenous peoples’ issues. The others are the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.
The 2023 session of the Forum takes place from 17-28 April at UN Headquarters.
Near-unanimous resolution urges Nigeria to “repeal the blasphemy laws at federal and state level”
Supreme Court of Nigeria to hear case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, sentenced to death for blasphemy on Whatsapp
Brussels (20 April 2023) – ADF International – In an urgency resolution the European Parliament has called for the release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a young Nigerian musician sentenced to death under the blasphemy law of Kano state, northern Nigeria. The resolution “recalls that blasphemy laws are in clear breach of international human rights” and “contrary to the Nigerian Constitution which guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression.” The resolution was adopted with a vote of 550 in favor and only seven votes against.
(SEE FULL RESOLUTION AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE)
Yahaya Sharif-Aminu’s case will be heard by the Supreme Court of Nigeria and has the potential to overturn the country’s draconian blasphemy law regime in the northern states. Blasphemy laws contribute to a culture of rampant fear and violence by targeting minority faith groups with criminal penalties, including in some parts, the death penalty, for religious expression perceived as offensive.
Kola Alapinni, the international human rights lawyer who is representing Yahaya at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in partnership with ADF International, stated:
“Nobody should be persecuted for their faith. Blasphemy laws are a grave violation not only of international law, but also of our Nigerian constitution. Together with ADF International, we are committed to defending Yahaya, and the human rights of all Nigerians. The international community must highlight the abuses of fundamental freedoms in Nigeria”.
Alapinni further added:
“Nigerian citizens deserve the freedom to speak about their beliefs and to freely live out their faith. We applaud the efforts of the European Parliament to denounce what is happening under the blasphemy laws in Nigeria and support Yahaya”.
In 2020, Sufi Muslim Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging for “blasphemy”. His alleged crime involved sending song lyrics on WhatsApp that were deemed blasphemous toward the prophet Mohammed.
With support from human rights legal advocacy group ADF International, Sharif-Aminu has appealed his case to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and is challenging the constitutionality of Sharia-based blasphemy laws.
The parliamentarian resolution urges “the Nigerian authorities to repeal the blasphemy laws at federal and state level.” It also calls for the immediate unconditional release of individuals that “face blasphemy allegations.”
Carlos Zorrinho, MEP (EPP) said during the debate:
“In the name of dignity, justice and respect for the most basic human rights, I reiterate our call for the immediate release of the musician Yahaya Sharif-Aminu who is literally on death row right now.”
Bert-Jan Ruissen, MEP (ECR) stated:
“The mere existence of blasphemy laws stimulates grave violence against persons who are accused of blasphemy, very often even before police forces and justice systems can intervene.”
Georgia du Plessis, Legal Officer at ADF International in Brussels, stated:
“ADF International is working not only with the urgent goal of saving Yahaya’s life and securing his release, but also to put an end to blasphemy laws everywhere. Together with our Nigerian partners, we are committed to defend Yahaya and support his fight for freedom of expression and religious freedom at the Supreme Court of Nigeria”
Du Plessis added:
“Religious freedom and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights. Blasphemy laws punish people for peacefully voicing their beliefs and are inherently inconsistent with human rights. The European Parliament has taken a much-needed step to bring Yahaya’s case to public attention. We are hopeful that the resolution provides international momentum for a positive outcome.”
“Case has unprecedented potential for religious freedom”
A newly released video features Nigerian lawyer Kola Alapinni, who has partnered with ADF International to secure Yahaya Sharif-Aminu’s freedom. Also featured in the video, the mother of the so-called “blasphemous” musician recounts the trial and traumatic experiences her son has endured.
Yahaya Sharif-Aminu remains in prison awaiting the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. Meanwhile, his case is far from an isolated incident. Together with minority Muslims, the persecution of Christians in Nigeria is especially severe. In 2021, 90% of all Christians worldwide that were killed for their faith were in Nigeria.
Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Global Religious Freedom for ADF International, said:
“Religious freedom advocates have waited decades to overturn this blasphemy law. We can’t let this opportunity pass us by. The case has unprecedented potential for religious freedom and freedom of expression in Nigeria and could be the catalyst for the change we all are hoping for. Blasphemy laws are a catastrophe—they destabilize countries and provoke violence. As we are advocating for freedom of religion and speech around the world, we can clearly see that sentencing someone to death for their peaceful expression is the ultimate censorship”.
Yahaya Sharif-Aminu’s Supreme Court appeal could end blasphemy laws in his home state of Kano and across northern Nigeria. A positive decision would lead the way towards abolishing blasphemy laws around the world.
European Parliament condemns Nigerian speech laws putting musician on death row for blasphemy 2
P9_TA(2023)0116
The risk of death penalty and execution of singer Yahaya Sharif Aminu for blasphemy in Nigeria
European Parliament resolution of 20 April 2023 on the risk of the death penalty and the execution of singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu for blasphemy in Nigeria (2023/2650(RSP))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 10 August 2020, Nigerian singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was brought before an upper Sharia court in Kano State, where he was tried without legal representation and sentenced to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy in a song he composed and shared on social media containing allegedly derogatory comments regarding the Prophet Muhammad;
B. whereas on 21 January 2021, Kano State High Court ordered a retrial on the grounds of procedural irregularities and on 17 August 2022 the Court of Appeal upheld the constitutionality of the blasphemy provisions in the Sharia Penal Code and affirmed the retrial order;
C. whereas in November 2022, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against his conviction, arguing that the blasphemy law under Kano State’s Sharia Penal Code directly violates Nigeria’s Constitution and binding international human rights treaties; whereas he remains in prison;
D. whereas many other people have been harmed by Nigeria’s blasphemy laws; whereas student Deborah Yakubu was stoned and beaten to death in 2022; whereas Rhoda Jatau was attacked by a mob and is on trial without the right to bail; whereas humanist Mubarak Bala was sentenced to 24 years in prison;
E. whereas the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Nigeria is party, restricts capital punishment to the most serious crimes; whereas despite this, Sharia, practiced in at least 12 states in northern Nigeria, imposes the death penalty for blasphemy;
F. whereas blasphemy laws in Nigeria are in violation of its international human rights commitments, the African Charter and the Nigerian Constitution;
1. Urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, drop all charges against him and guarantee his due process rights; calls for the release of Rhoda Jatau, Mubarak Bala and others who face blasphemy allegations;
2. Recalls that blasphemy laws are in clear breach of international human rights obligations, in particular the ICCPR, and contrary to the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression;
3. Urges the Nigerian authorities to uphold human rights throughout the country by ensuring that federal, state and Sharia law do not deny Nigerians protection under the national Constitution and international conventions; urges the Nigerian authorities to repeal the blasphemy laws at federal and state level;
4. Recalls that Nigeria has immense influence throughout Africa and the Muslim world and stresses that this case is an unprecedented opportunity to lead the way towards abolishing blasphemy laws;
5. Urges the Nigerian Government to tackle the impunity surrounding blasphemy accusations;
6. Recalls the international efforts to abolish the death penalty and urges Nigeria to immediately withdraw the use of capital punishment for blasphemy and take steps towards full abolition;
7. Calls for the EU and its Member States, as key development partners, to raise individual cases, human rights concerns and blasphemy laws with the Nigerian authorities;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Nigerian authorities and international institutions.
The European Commission announced today that it is taking Bulgaria to court in three cases – for clean vehicles, for the electronic toll service and for the marketing of natural mineral and spring waters.
Clean vehicles
Brussels has decided to file a claim against Bulgaria before the Court of the European Union because the authorities in Sofia have not translated into national laws and regulations (the so-called non-transposition) the rules for clean vehicles.
The Clean Vehicles Directive sets national public procurement targets for clean vehicles.
This applies in particular to city buses, where public procurement accounts for around 70% of the market.
In the case of Bulgaria, the directive requires at least 17.6% of all light commercial vehicles, 7% of all trucks and 34% of all city buses bought between August 2, 2021 and December 31, 2025 to be clean vehicles, and at least 17% of all city buses bought in the same period to have zero exhaust emissions.
The directive also covers leasing, rental and financial leasing of vehicles, as well as contracts for certain services such as:
• public road transport
• specialized services for road transport of passengers,
• non-scheduled land passenger transport,
• specific postal and parcel services
• household waste collection.
It aims to further improve the air quality in municipalities and extend the life cycle of products (according to the principles of the circular economy).
The first reference period for reporting what has been achieved at the national level is after two years – in 2025, and the second is in 2030. Bulgaria has not yet introduced the directive into its legislation.
The deadline for transposing the directive was August 2021. The Commission sent an official notification letter to Bulgaria in September 2021 and a reasoned opinion in April 2022 (two of the three steps in a criminal procedure – note ed.)
As Bulgaria continues to violate the directive, the Commission has now decided to take the third and final step and refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU.
Electronic toll service
The European Commission has decided to file a lawsuit against Bulgaria and Poland for not transposing the rules for electronic road tolling into national legislation.
The European Electronic Road Tolling Service (EETS) is a charging system where, once fully implemented, road users in the EU can pay tolls with one subscription contract, have one service provider and one on-board device, which covers all member states.
The Directive has two objectives: to ensure the interoperability of electronic road tolling systems and to facilitate the cross-border exchange of information on non-payment of tolls.
Significant differences in the technical specifications of electronic road charging systems could hinder the achievement of interoperability of electronic road charging across the EU and harm the efficiency of transport operations, the cost-effectiveness of road charging systems and the achievement of transport objectives. policy, notes the European Commission.
The lack of transposition of these rules is therefore an obstacle to the interoperability of Member States’ electronic road tolling systems and to the cross-border enforcement of the obligation to pay road tolls in the EU.
This means that drivers may be required to have more than one subscription contract, provider and on-board device in order to drive to or through Bulgaria and Poland. Problems could also arise in the collection of tolls for non-resident offenders, as well as for drivers from these countries in other Member States.
The deadline for transposing this directive expired on 19 October 2021. The Commission started the infringement procedures against these Member States in November 2021 and decided to send reasoned opinions in May 2022. As they continue to breach their obligation to transpose the directive , the Commission decided to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the EU.
Water trade
The European Commission has also decided to file a claim against Bulgaria before the Court of Justice of the EU for improper application of EU rules on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters.
The European Commission takes legal steps to guarantee consumers’ right to information, protect them from being misled and ensure fair trade.
According to Brussels, the Bulgarian legislation is not in line with the rules, as it does not prohibit the marketing under more than one commercial description, as required by the directive, of natural mineral and spring waters originating from the same source.
In addition, contrary to the rules, Bulgarian legislation does not require the name of the source to be indicated on the labels of mineral and spring waters. Bulgarian legislation allows also to use the designation “spring water” for water that does not meet the conditions for use of this term.
After sending a letter of formal notice in July 2020 and a reasoned opinion in September 2021, the Commission concluded that the infringements found had not been remedied.
Already in February of this year, the European Commission decided to file a claim before the Court of the European Union against Bulgaria and 10 other member states for not notifying it of the adoption of measures for the transposition of two directives in the field of copyright, the institution’s press service reported .
The European Commission has also decided to file a claim before the Court of Justice of the European Union against Bulgaria and three other member states because they have not introduced into their national legislation on open data and the reuse of data from the public sector.
