B3-1028, 1068 and 1091/93

Resolution on capital punishment in Saudi Arabia

The European Parliament,

A.whereas in Saudi Arabia Islamic law (the Sharia) is still the only existing law,

B.horrified at the increasing number of executions by beheading in Saudi Arabia, as emerges from Amnesty International's recent report on this subject (105 executions between 15 May 1992 and 15 May 1993, with 58 since the beginning of 1993),

C.aware that the death penalty is mandatory for apostasy, some acts of treason, conspiracy against the state and sabotage and some kinds of robbery with violence and may also be inflicted for adultery, making alcohol and drug trafficking as well as for murder,

D.aware that convictions can be based solely on uncorroborated confessions and fearing that such confessions are sometimes obtained by torture,

E.whereas all attempts to set up groups representing democratic views or with humanitarian purposes are prohibited or severely punished, as happened last May in the case of the committees for the defence of human rights,

F.recalling its opposition to capital punishment,

1.Calls on the authorities of Saudi Arabia to respect human rights, to grant those accused of common offences fair trials, with the assistance of lawyers and the provision of defence, and to put an end to the barbaric practices of public beheading and amputation;

2.Calls on the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC to condemn Saudi Arabia's penal policy and urges them, in particular, to make clear the abhorrence of the peoples of the EC to executions for religious offences;

3.Expresses its admiration for the political, moral and physical courage of those who in such situations fight for democratic freedoms and human rights in Saudi Arabia;

4.Recommends that its delegation for relations with the Gulf states should make respect for human rights a necessary precondition for continuing dialogue and relations between the Community and Saudi Arabia;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, EPC, the government of Saudi Arabia and the Secretary-General of the Arab League.