In a hearing on freedom of religion or belief, Human Rights MEPs focused on the persecution of various religious minorities & were informed about the "rising tide of intolerance" worldwide.
The European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) today held a hearing on "Freedom of Religion or Belief: the situation of persecuted minorities, notably Christians", chaired by DROI Chair MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT). The hearing with several experts from different parts of the world focused on the persecution of various religious minorities, notably Christians, Shias and Rohingya.
Disappointed by the Bahrain court ruling rejecting Nabeel Rajab's appeal, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human rights, Mr Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT) stated:
"I am very alarmed by the Bahrain Court decision to uphold a two-year sentence against Nabeel Rajab for having given televised interviews in which he addressed Bahrain's poor human rights record. This decision goes against international law and his detention violates Nabeel Rajab's right to freedom of expression..."
The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights will take place on Thursday 7 December from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in meeting room PHS 1A002.
MEPs condemn the rise of violence against albinos in Malawi, persecutions against Crimean Tatars and crackdown on political opponents in the Maldives in three resolutions voted on Thursday.
At a time when Saudi Arabia has initiated an ambitious economic and social transformation, a delegation from the Subcommittee on Human Rights concluded its first mission to the country.
The four-Member DROI delegation visited the country together with the European Parliament's delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula (29 October-31 October) and was composed of Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, RO), Beatriz Becerra (ALDE, ES), Josef Weidenholzer (S&D, AT) and Lars Adaktusson (EPP, SE).