David Norris (Independent)

I thank my colleague, Senator Jim Walsh, for so generously making this time available. I asked if he would allow me to participate in the debate because he has picked an extremely significant issue which deserves a widespread debate. I commend him on taking the matter up as it is extremely serious.

I asked if I could participate because I have some personal knowledge of the matter. When I began going to the Middle East approximately 40 years ago, the population of Bethlehem was 80% Christian and 20% Muslim but that has now been reversed exactly. That is partly due to the Israeli occupation. I know from friends that another cause is the bullying tactic adopted by mosques, which blare highly political sermons into the Christian districts, which is really deplorable.

The awful violence which Senator Walsh spoke about so eloquently is an embarrassment to mainstream and decent Muslims, which are in the undoubted majority. There is a fanatic minority which has been exacerbated by the attack on Iran etc. I have also been in Egypt and spoken to some of the Kopts. There was an appalling attack on a Roman Catholic church, when over 100 people were killed in Baghdad, but there was also an attack on people at a special Christmas service in Alexandria. It was abominable for people celebrating the birth of Christ to be attacked in this way.

I am particularly glad Senator Walsh gave me this permission as I ask the Minister of State if it is possible for him to give any information on the position in Pakistan. A woman, Ms Asia Bibi, has been sentenced to death for blasphemy, with the act including a defence of the Christian religion. People are being condemned to death for converting, so what kind of freedom is that? I read a book over Christmas which was not terribly high-brow but it was interesting. It is called Labyrinth and was written by Kate Mosse, and it takes us through the Crusades period, detailing how Cathars were horribly persecuted.

I would be a little reluctant to impose sanctions as that may injure the most vulnerable people in the country. I would agree to it if we could injure the governments but our actions must be political. We must consider our own blasphemy laws as it is an important subject. We can consider the assassination of the governor of Punjab in Pakistan for the crime of talking about repealing blasphemy laws. Ireland was given as an example because we introduced blasphemy laws. Members of the Pakistani bar displayed appalling behaviour in openly cheering and throwing flowers on the man who murdered the governor, simply because he preached a certain degree of tolerance towards Christians.