Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The plight of Asia Bibi, who is detained in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy, remains of great concern to the Government. Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade avail of every possible opportunity to raise Ms Bibi's conviction. Ireland does not have a resident embassy in Pakistan but the embassy in Ankara, Turkey, is accredited to Pakistan. Our embassy in Ankara continues to monitor the situation in Pakistan generally, and the embassy remains in regular contact with the EU delegation in Islamabad.

During official visits to Islamabad, the Irish ambassador has conveyed our concerns at this conviction on a number of occasions. In the course of a series of meetings there in November 2014, the then ambassador met with a senior official in the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan and raised this case, noting that it is a matter of grave concern in Ireland. Officials in my Department have also raised this case, and our concerns regarding the blasphemy laws and persecution of Christians generally, with the Embassy of Pakistan here in Dublin, and they will continue to do so.

The European Union also continues to raise this conviction with the Pakistan authorities, including through the EU delegation in Islamabad. In the course of a statement made on behalf of the EU High Representative at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg in October 2014, it was noted that the EU, particularly its delegation in Islamabad, would continue both to follow the case of Ms Bibi closely and to advocate for the verdict to be overturned. While not trying to intervene in an ongoing court case, the statement also noted that the EU would use any opportunity to raise this case and the wider issues of the death penalty and blasphemy law with Pakistan. The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, visited Pakistan in October 2014 for an indepth dialogue with the Pakistan authorities on key human rights issues.

Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief. Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians. I assure the House that Ireland will continue to support actively freedom of religion or belief across our foreign policy. In the case of Ms Bibi, officials in Dublin and Ankara will continue to monitor her case closely and to raise it as appropriate with the Government of Pakistan.

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