Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who it is alleged has been imprisoned in Pakistan for the crime of blasphemy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59977/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Our Embassy in Ankara, which is accredited to Pakistan, is aware of the individual in question, who was sentenced to life imprisonment on blasphemy-related charges in February 2022.

Ireland has consistently condemned all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been ratified by Pakistan.

In the context of our bilateral relationship, Ireland’s Ambassador to Pakistan visited Pakistan last month and discussed human rights issues with a number of Pakistani governmental officials. Earlier in February 2021, she met with Pakistan’s then Federal Minister for Human Rights, Ms. Shireen Mazari.

Matters relating to freedom of religion or belief were also discussed recently at the EU-Pakistan Joint Commission, in October 2022. Ireland actively contributed to the development of the EU's position for this meeting, as well as the development of EU policies in relation to Pakistan, more broadly.

At an EU level, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr. Eamon Gilmore met with Minister Mazari in February 2022, as part of a visit to reaffirm the centrality of human rights in the EU-Pakistani relationship.