Month: September 2019

  • VIDEO: Úloha Maroša Šefčoviča v Európskej komisii bude náročná, jeho meno je však dobre známe

    VIDEO: Úloha Maroša Šefčoviča v Európskej komisii bude náročná, jeho meno je však dobre známe

    Hosťom Pavla Demeša v relácii SVET bo prvý slovenský eurokomisár Ján Figeľ.

    Meno podpredsedu Európskej komisie (EK) Maroša Šefčoviča je podľa Jána Figeľa v bruselských kruhoch dobre známe z minulosti. “Neurobil Slovensku zlé meno, skôr napomáhal procesom, ktoré boli veľmi potrebné jednak po rozšírení únie, v ťažkých rokoch hospodárskej krízy a rovnako pri procese prechodu k brexitu,” myslí si J. Figeľ. M. Šefčovič bude zodpovedný za medziinštitucionálne vzťahy a strategický výhľad a jeho úloha bude podľa J. Figeľa náročná.

    Nastupujúca Európska komisia zdedila zložitú situáciu a musí sa s tým vysporiadať, myslí si bývalý slovenský eurokomisár J. Figeľ a dodáva: “Prežívame neobvyklé časy, ľudia spomínajú brexit…, do toho vstupujú tweety (amerického prezidenta) Donalda Trumpa…, ako aj dravosť Číny, úloha Ruska a nedávna migračná kríza.”

    Samotný proces tvorby Európskej komisie je podľa J. Figeľa dosť zložitý. Kandidáti na post eurokomisárov musia “prejsť viacnásobným sitom, najprv ich nominujú vlády jednotlivých štátov, dezignovaný predseda si nominácie môže, ale aj nemusí osvojiť. Tretím stupňom je rozhodnutie Európskeho parlamentu a štvrtým je rozhodnutie Rady Európskej únie,” vysvetľuje J. Figeľ.

    Tím, ktorý zostavila zvolená predsedníčka Ursula von der Leyenová, je podľa J. Figeľa “kombináciou vyvažovania a novosti”. Ako uviedol, ide o vyváženosť rodovú, keďže v novej komisii má byť 13 žien a 14 mužov, ale aj politickú vyváženosť z hľadiska štátov vo vnútri únie.

    Pozrite si reláciu SVET s Pavlom Demešom.

    http://tv.teraz.sk/svet-tu-a-teraz/x7kxo3n20190912_019_svet_figel/17095/

  • Asia Bibi mi dôverovala

    Asia Bibi mi dôverovala

    Ján Figeľ o kauze pakistanskej kresťanky Asie Bibi aj o tom, ako sa k téme prenasledovaných kresťanov stavia naša diplomacia.

    Pakistanská kresťanka Asia Bibi, ktorá žije v exile v Kanade, mu verejne poďakovala za pomoc. Osobitný vyslanec EÚ pre náboženskú slobodu Ján Figeľ v rozhovore pre Postoj hovorí o svojom angažovaní sa v tejto kauze. Pýtali sme sa ho tiež na to, čo zavážilo pri jej prepustení, aký tlak vyvíjala EÚ, prečo nakoniec skončila v Kanade a ako sa k téme prenasledovaných kresťanov stavia slovenská politika a diplomacia.

    https://7c1d8c8f-6bcf-4657-9598-a27b0c95bd02.usrfiles.com/html/2b2e4b_d767b483cae16e027c4ea8ac7906fbf4.html

    https://www.postoj.sk/47173/asia-bibi-mi-doverovala

  • Úloha Šefčoviča v EK bude náročná, jeho meno je však dobre známe

    Úloha Šefčoviča v EK bude náročná, jeho meno je však dobre známe

    Meno podpredsedu Európskej komisie (EK) Maroša Šefčoviča je podľa Jána Figeľa v bruselských kruhoch dobre známe z minulosti.

    „Neurobil Slovensku zlé meno, skôr napomáhal procesom, ktoré boli veľmi potrebné, jednak po rozšírení Únie, v ťažkých rokoch hospodárskej krízy a rovnako pri procese prechodu k brexitu,“ uviedol Figeľ v relácii Svet v televízii Tablet.TV. Šefčovič bude zodpovedný za medziinštitucionálne vzťahy a strategický výhľad a jeho úloha bude podľa Figeľa náročná.

    Nastupujúca EK zdedila zložitú situáciu a musí sa s tým vyrovnať, myslí si bývalý slovenský eurokomisár Figeľ. „Prežívame neobvyklé časy, ľudia spomínajú brexit…, do toho vstupujú tweety (amerického prezidenta) Donalda Trumpa…, ako aj dravosť Číny, úloha Ruska a nedávna migračná kríza,“ dodal.

    Samotný proces tvorby EK je podľa Figeľa dosť zložitý. Kandidáti na post eurokomisárov musia „prejsť viacnásobným sitom, najprv ich nominujú vlády jednotlivých štátov, dezignovaný predseda si nominácie môže, ale aj nemusí osvojiť. Tretím stupňom je rozhodnutie Európskeho parlamentu a štvrtým je rozhodnutie Rady Európskej únie,“ vysvetľuje Figeľ.

    Tím, ktorý zostavila zvolená predsedníčka Ursula von der Leyenová, je podľa Figeľa „kombináciou vyvažovania a novosti“. Ako uviedol, ide o vyváženosť rodovú, keďže v novej Komisii má byť 13 žien a 14 mužov, ale aj politickú vyváženosť z hľadiska štátov vo vnútri únie.

    https://www.hlavnydennik.sk/2019/09/13/figel-uloha-sefcovica-v-ek-bude-narocna-jeho-meno-je-vsak-dobre-zname

  • ŠTÚDIO TA3: J. Figeľ o príbehu oslobodenej pakistanskej kresťanky

    ŠTÚDIO TA3: J. Figeľ o príbehu oslobodenej pakistanskej kresťanky

    https://www.ta3.com/clanok/158743/studio-ta3-j-figel-o-pribehu-oslobodenej-pakistanskej-krestanky

    V štúdiu TA3 sme si pripomenuli príbeh pakistanskej kresťanky Ásije Bíbíovej. Tá vo svojej rodnej krajine čelila za údajné rúhanie sa trestu smrti. Súd ju napokon oslobodil a pomohol v tom aj vyslanec EÚ pre náboženskú slobodu Ján Figeľ.

    VIDEO: https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1164276/studio-ta3-j-figel-o-pribehu-oslobodenej-pakistanskej-krestanky.html

  • Mala zomrieť pre svoju vieru. Podarilo sa jej však prežiť a za to dnes ďakuje Slovákovi, Jánovi Figeľovi

    https://www.noviny.sk/slovensko/469855-mala-zomriet-pre-svoju-vieru-podarilo-sa-jej-vsak-prezit-a-za-to-dnes-dakuje-slovakovi-janovi-figelovi

    BRATISLAVA / Hovoríme o pakistanskej žene, ktorú doma obviňovali z rúhania sa prorokovi Mohamedovi. Jej príbeh roky ostro sledoval celý svet. Dnes žije v utajení v kanadskom exile. Pakistanka Asia Nóriová, známa ako Asia Bibi, sa počas prác na poli napila z verejnej studne a pohár vody podala svojej moslimskej spolupracovníčke. Ďalšie ženy ju však ako kresťanku napadli s tým, že svojou vierou vodu znečistila.

    “Verím vo svoje náboženstvo a v Ježiša Krista, ktorý zomrel na kríži za hriechy ľudstva. Čo urobil na záchranu ľudstva váš prorok Mohamed?,” vyhlásila odsúdená pakistanská kresťanka Asia.

    Tento výrok sa okamžite rozšíril po celej krajine. Asia ním na smrť urazila milióny Pakistancov. Keďže tam panujú veľmi prísne moslimské zákony, odsúdili ju na dvojnásobný trest smrti. Popravu dnes už 48 ročnej Pakistanky tamojšie úrady pre dlhý proces odvolania vykonať nestihli. Matka dvoch detí si však v žalári odsedela dlhých 10 rokov.

    Príbeh obletel celý svet

    Príbeh ženy, ktorú v jej vlastnej krajine chceli popraviť pre jej vieru, okamžite obletel celý svet. Za jej oslobodenie bojovali stovky aktivistov či štátnikov. Po urputnom boji sa jej podarilo dostať na slobodu a s rodinou utiecť. Teraz zverejnila video v ktorom osobne ďakuje Slovákovi. Bývalému ministrovi a eurokomisárovi. “Pomáhal mi dostať sa z väznenia až doteraz. Je to Ján Figeľ z Európskej únie,” uviedla.

    Ján Figeľ, ktorému Asia Bibi vrúcne ďakuje za pomoc, dnes pracuje ako osobitný vyslanec Európskej únie pre náboženskú slobodu. Hovorí, že tak ako milióny ľudí vo svete, aj jeho tento príbeh zaujal. Práve preto sa hneď potom, ako sa v Bruseli ujal funkcie, pustil do tohto prípadu. “To mala byť prvá popravená žena za rúhanie. Tak som sa angažoval v príbehu a žiadal o prijatie v Pakistane,” opisuje Figeľ.

    To sa však podarilo až po opakovaných pokusoch. Pri vyjednávaní o obchodnej dohode medzi Európskou úniou a Pakistanom, na ktorej Pakistancom veľmi záležalo. Jednou z podmienok dohody však bolo prepustenie Asie. S čím nakoniec aj súhlasili. “Slobodnou sa však nestala, pretože by neprežila ani 24 hodín,” poznamenal Figeľ.

    Stala sa nepriateľom extrémistov číslo jeden

    Jej prepustenie sprevádzali masové protesty. Asii a jej rodine hrozilo verejné zlynčovanie. Pod dohľadom tamojších úradov preto nakoniec emigrovala do Kanady, kde začína nový život. “Teraz som slobodná žena a ja s mojimi deťmi vyslovujeme poďakovanie svetu, Jánovi Figeľovi a všetkým ľuďom, ktorí mi pomohli,” poďakovala Asia. Ján Figeľ sa s Asiou videl iba prostredníctvom video hovoru. Aj v súčasnosti je s ňou v kontakte.Verí, že sa s ňou stretne aj osobne. Možno už čoskoro. “Chcela, aby sme mali spoločné vianoce. Tie predchádzajúce nevyšli. Možno tie ďalšie budú,” skonštatoval Figeľ.

    https://www.noviny.sk/slovensko/469855-mala-zomriet-pre-svoju-vieru-podarilo-sa-jej-vsak-prezit-a-za-to-dnes-dakuje-slovakovi-janovi-figelovi

  • Persecuted Pakistani Christian woman builds new life in Canada

    Persecuted Pakistani Christian woman builds new life in Canada

    Nine years after being falsely accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad while engaged in a row with her neighbours, Pakistani-born Christian Asia Bibi and her daughters have been relocated from Lahore to an undisclosed safe location in Canada where they are now all living together.

    Bibi had spent eight years on death row until October 2018 when Pakistan’s supreme court overturned her conviction, triggering violent mass protests throughout the nation and calls for both her and the judges in the case to be killed. Bibi was later released but put in legal limbo while awaiting the outcome of tense negotiations as her lawyers attempted to find a country that could grant her safe asylum.

    Supporters of radical Islamist party, Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, rally to protest the release of Asia Bibi (pictured) in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA-EFE//SHAHZAIB AKBER

    Radical Islamists in Pakistan – a nuclear-armed nation of 215 million people, 98% of which are Muslim – have regularly called for Bibi to be publicly executed and activists say she would not have been safe had she stayed in the country.

    The EU’s Special Envoy for Religious Freedom Jan Figel played a key role in negotiating her release and eventual immigration to Canada. Figel first met with Pakistani government officials both in Brussels and in Islamabad to secure Bibi’s safe passage out of the country.

    For more than 30 years, Pakistan has struggled to quell the spread of radical Islam in the country following the introduction of harsh blasphemy laws by the country’s hardline former dictator, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980s.

    Since then, both internal and external Islamist organisations – including branches of the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, and Lashkar-e-Taiba – have helped facilitate the growth of extremism and terrorism in the country. Religious fundamentalists and extremists, especially those influenced by Wahhabism, have regularly partnered with Pakistani state institutions to help further each other’s interests as they shape society around them.

    When the situation became unbearable, the EU’s representative linked the human rights conditions in Pakistan to the GSP+ trade agreement between the European Union and Pakistan, an accord that specifically states.

    “The EU supports democratic reforms and equal, inclusive citizenship for all people in Pakistan, including its minorities of Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, Sikhs, and others.” Figel said in interviews with the media following Bibi’s release,” I realised how I may become a target of violent extremists…They killed Asia Bibi’s defenders in the past, they have many followers abroad as well.”

    Three EU countries and Canada offered Bibi and her daughters to immigrate, a decision that Pakistan’s government readily accepted but one that was denounced by the country’s dozens of militant Islamist organisations, all of whom accused Islamabad of “caving into the European Union”.

    That did not deter Bibi, however, as she and her daughters were granted asylum by the Canadian government following a public announcement by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Paris during last year’s centennial commemoration of the end of the First World War.

    https://www.neweurope.eu/article/persecuted-pakistani-christian-woman-builds-new-life-in-canada

  • Release of Asia Bibi shows promise for religious freedom

    Release of Asia Bibi shows promise for religious freedom

    Budapest, Hungary, Sep 12, 2019 / 12:02 am (CNA).- A European Union official who played a role in working for the release of Pakistani death row inmate Asia Bibi said the outcome shows the potential of international cooperation to promote religious freedom.

    Ashiq Mesih and Eisham Ashiq, Asia Bibi’s husband and daughter in Rome April 15, 2015. Credit: Bohumil Petrik/CNA.

    Jan Figel is the EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion outside of Europe. In an interview with CNA, he praised Bibi as “an admirably brave woman and loving mother. She did not give up her Christian faith [in exchange for freedom], and she represents encouragement for many others facing false blasphemy accusations.”

    Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five, was convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan in 2009 and sentenced to death by hanging. She was accused of making disparaging remarks about the prophet Muhammad after an argument about a cup of water. She was held on death row until October 2018 when her conviction was overturned.

    After the acquittal, there were protests by Islamic hardliners, and Bibi remained in Pakistan under protective custody until May 2019. She is now in a secret location in Canada with her family.

    In a new audio message this week, Bibi issued a plea that justice and judgement be treated as serious matters aimed at the pursuit of truth.

    “If you want to punish someone, do not do it without listening to him. And do something for all the people in prison for blasphemy: visit them in prison, listen to them, discuss with them,” she said.

    According to the U.S. State Department, there are an estimated 77 people in prison in Pakistan under blasphemy laws, most of them Muslims.

    Bibi said in her message she is grateful to the international community that worked for her release, and in particular to Figel, whom she described as “an angel who saved me [from] the imprisonment.”

    Figel told CNA that the reason Bibi remained under protective custody in Pakistan for nine months was likely because “the Imran Khan government and Pakistani Military used this delay to get the situation in the country under real control.”

    He lamented that under the previous government, “relatively small groups took streets hostage, and de facto dictated some decisions to the elected government. Now, leaders of militant groups and violent extremists have been jailed after massive public protests.”

    Figel recently launched the academic and political Declaration of Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere.

    He explained to CNA that his involvement in Bibi’s case was intended to shed light on issues of religious freedom, since “Asia Bibi was famous worldwide as an evident abuse of freedom of religion and beliefs.”

    Figel said he was able to visit Pakistan only in December 2017, and he made a second visit in 2018.

    In meeting with officials, he “spoke about the importance of dignity and justice for all Pakistanis, especially minorities” and stressed that Bibi’s case was being closely watched internationally. He emphasized that the status quo of commercial relations between the EU and Pakistan was insufficient, and he asked the country to comply with international treaties that protect minorities.

    Despite all the talks, Figel said that “real progress started only after summer elections in Pakistan with incoming Imran Khan government. It was brave enough to take responsibility into [its own] hands from militant groups who successfully took the State as a hostage under the previous government.”

    After the acquittal, Figel spoke “very fairly and very seriously” with Pakistani government officials. He also helped Bibi’s family members apply for asylum in three EU countries and Canada, fearing that they also could become targets of violence.

    During this time, Figel was also in contact with Bibi as she was being held in protective custody.

    “With long delays due to judicial revision and no certainty on the expected full solution, she needed human and psychological support in some periods,” he said.

    In December, Canada formally granted asylum to Bibi and her family. Her daughters were transported immediately. After Bibi and her husband were given passports and permitted to travel, the family was reunited.

    Figel hopes Bibi’s story will become a basis for reform of the blasphemy law in Pakistan.

    He also said the experience “proves that the EU as a soft-power can facilitate positive changes in the world in the area of justice, sustainable development, and human rights protection through more efficient Freedom of Religion and Belief promotion.”

    “Defense of the persecuted, the defenseless or the voiceless is our noble obligation.”

    https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/eu-official-release-of-asia-bibi-shows-promise-for-religious-freedom-55681?__twitter_impression=true

  • Pakistanka ODSÚDENÁ NA SMRŤ: Chcem poďakovať anjelovi, JÁNOVI FIGEĽOVI

    Pakistanka ODSÚDENÁ NA SMRŤ: Chcem poďakovať anjelovi, JÁNOVI FIGEĽOVI

    Bratislava 11. septembra (Teraz.sk) – Pakistanská kresťanka Ásíjá Nóríová, mediálne známa ako Asia Bibi, vo svojom prvom živom videu z exilu zverejnenom na portáli The European Post ďakuje ľuďom, ktorí jej pomáhali v čase, keď sedela v cele smrti, a špeciálne slovenskému politikovi Jánovi Figeľovi. „Chcem poďakovať anjelovi, osobe, ktorá mi doteraz pomáhala od môjho uväznenia: týmto človekom je Ján Figeľ, osobitný vyslanec Európskej únie pre náboženskú slobodu. Som mu skutočne vďačná a a želám si, aby Boh mohol poskytnúť viac ľudí ako on,“ povedala podľa portálu Asia Bibi. Asiu Bibi, matku piatich detí, v roku 2010 odsúdili na smrť obesením za údajné rúhačské slová, ktoré mala rok predtým vysloviť počas banálnej hádky s moslimkami. Verdikt bol vynesený na základe kontroverzných pakistanských zákonov o rúhaní. Hádku spustila rozšírená povera, podľa ktorej ak sa kresťan napije z moslimskej studne, znečistí tým vodu. „Nedostatok vzdelanosti, poverčivosť a predsudky sú základom pre neznášanlivosť. Dnes má v Pakistane veľký priestor fundamentalizmus až fanatizmus. Chcem len pripomenúť, že v trinástich štátoch sveta je trest smrti za ateizmus, v 22 štátoch, väčšinou sú to moslimské, je trest smrti za odpadnutie od viery a vyše 70 štátov sveta používa zákony proti rúhaniu. Pakistan je spolu s Mauretániou najvypuklejší príklad,“ povedal v decembri 2018 v TABLET.TV Figeľ, ktorý sa za oslobodenie Asie Bibi angažoval už od roku 2016.

    Aj v Pakistane sa však našlo viacero politikov, ktorí neboli s odsúdením ženy na smrť za banálnu hádku spokojní. Jedného z nich, guvernéra Salmána Taseera, však preto zastrelil jeho vlastný ochrankár. Ten bol za vraždu neskôr odsúdený a popravený, množstvo radikálnych moslimov ho však v Pakistane považuje za martýra. A keď pakistanský najvyšší súd Asiu Bibi spod trestu smrti napokon v roku 2018 oslobodil, v Pakistane vypukli masové nepokoje, ktoré požadovali jej obesenie. Vyhrážkam radikálov sa nevyhol ani Figeľ, keďže radikáli považovali za dôvod zmeny názoru súdov aj nátlak Európskej únie. „Ľudia si oveľa viac vážia účinnú pomoc vtedy, ak ju dostanú v čase, keď ju súrne potrebujú, než ak k nim príde až po vyriešení problému alebo dokonca len formou verbálneho povzbudenia,“ poznamenal v tejto súvislosti Figeľ v TABLET.TV. Odvolanie voči oslobodzujúcemu verdiktu pakistanského najvyššieho súdu bolo definitívne zamietnuté v januári 2019. Na aktuálnom videu, ktoré bolo nakrútené začiatkom septembra, Asia Bibi hovorí, že necíti nenávisť, trvá však na tom, že neurobila nič zlé. Vyzýva ľudí, aby si nerobili mienku o druhých bez toho, aby si vypočuli ich názor či vysvetlenie. Apeluje tiež na celý svet, aby nenechával ľudí odsúdených za rúhanie vo väzeniach bez pomoci. European Post udáva, že z bezpečnostných dôvodov nie je na videu vidieť tvár ženy a nie je špecifikované ani to, kde sa aktuálne nachádza.

    http://www.teraz.sk/zahranicie/asia-bibi-figel-anjel-pakistan-podakovan/417842-clanok.html

  • Asia Bibi, prime parole dal Canada: “Non ho mai indebolito la mia fede”

    Asia Bibi, prime parole dal Canada: “Non ho mai indebolito la mia fede”

    E Jan Figel, inviato speciale dell’Unione Europea per la libertà religiosa, spiega ad ACI Stampa le tappe che la hanno portata in Canada

    BUDAPEST, 11 settembre, 2019 / 6:00 PM (ACI Stampa).

    Dal luogo in Canada dove è con la sua famiglia a seguito dell’assoluzione dalla condanna a morte per blasfemia, Asia Bibi invia un audio messaggio al mondo, sottolinea di non aver perso la fede, chiede di ascoltare con cura qualunque accusato prima di condannarlo e mostra preoccupazione per quanti sono ancora in prigione condannati per blasfemia in Pakistan.

    Papa Francesco saluta i familiari di Asia Bibi al termine di una udienza generale nel 2015 Foto: © Service Photo Vatican – SFV

    La donna, madre di cinque figli e al centro di una grande mobilitazione internazionale, era stata condannata a morte per blasfemia nel 2010 in Pakistan, dopo una disputa con delle donne musulmane per via di un bicchiere di acqua. La condanna era stata confermata nel 2014, ma lo scorso anno la Corte Suprema del Pakistana aveva cancellato la condanna. Per otto mesi, Asia Bibi è rimasta con il marito in una località segreta del Punjab per otto mesi, in attesa della revisione della sentenza, e poi si è potuta rifugiare in Canada.

    Nel video, Asia Bibi sottolinea di credere in Gesù e attribuisce la sua libertà a Gesù. “Non ho mai indebolito il mio credo. Voglio chiarire questo, che non ho fatto niente di sbagliato. Chiedo a tutto il mondo di pensare prima di prendere una decisione sbagliata. Ascoltate, prima, poi decidete”.

    Asia Bibi chiede anche di pensare alle persone “nel braccio della morte per blasfemia”, di pensare loro “in maniera positiva e di essere positivi nei loro confronti”, di andarli a visitare ed ascoltarli. E poi aggiunge: “Questo è il mio messaggio, è la mia passione, è la mia richiesta al mondo. Per favore, in nome di Dio, non accusate nessuno ingiustamente”.

    Infine, chiede che “tutti i popoli da tutte le religioni devono vivere insieme in pace, sicurezza e fratellanza”.

    In particolare, Asia Bibi ringrazia Jan Figel, inviato speciale dell’Unione Europea per la libertà religiosa fuori dell’Europa.

    Parlando con ACI Stampa, Jan Figel ha sottolineato che la ragione per cui Asia Bibi è dovuta rimanere in Pakistan otto mesi prima di poter essere messa al sicuro è dovuta al fatto che “il governo di Imran Khan e le forze militari in Pakistan hanno usato questo ritardo per portare la situazione nella nazione sotto vero controllo”.

    Figel ha anche detto che “sotto il precedente governo di Sharif, i mullah con relativamente piccoli gruppi di seguaci potevano prendere le strade in ostaggio, e de facto hanno dettato alcune decisioni al governo eletto. Ora, i leader dei gruppi militanti e gli estremisti violenti sono stati messi in carcere dopo le pubbliche proteste”.

    Figel ha lanciato la Dichiarazione per la Dignità Umana per Tutti e in Ogni Luogo, firmata da accademici e politici. Figel è stato coinvolto nel caso Asia Bibi anche per mettere in luce i temi della libertà religiosa, considerando che il caso della donna pakistana è diventato famoso in tutto il mondo perché si è trattato di un evidente “abuso della libertà di religione”.

    Figel ha potuto andare in Pakistan la prima volta nel dicembre 2017, dopo un anno di lavoro, e ha fatto una seconda visita nel 2018. Figel ha sottolineato che “nei miei dialoghi, a tutti i livelli, ho parlato dell’importanza della dignità e della giustizia per tutti gli abitanti del Pakistan, specialmente le minoranze. Ho parlato instancabilmente con i miei interlocutori di alto livello dell’importanza che ci siano chiari segni che le autorità pakistane si stanno muovendo verso uno Stato di diritto e una giustizia per tutti. La giustizia in ritardo è una giustizia negata”.

    Durante i suoi incontri, Figel ha anche messo in luce come il caso di Asia Bibi fosse sotto osservazione da parte di tutta la comunità internazionale. Il Pakistan si sentiva protetto da una serie di rapporti commerciali con l’Unione Europea, ma Figel ha sottolineato che “lo status quo” non è abbastanza, e che il Pakistan avrebbe dovuto anche rispettare i trattati internazionali che proteggono le minoranze.

    Nonostante tutti questi colloqui, Figel ha notato che “ci sono stati reali progressi solo dopo le elezioni d’estate in Pakistan e con l’arrivo del governo di Irman Khan. Il governo è stato tanto coraggioso da togliere la responsabilità dalle mani dei gruppi militanti che, durante il precedente governo avevano tenuto in ostaggio la nazione”.

    Dopo la decisione della Corte Suprema di rilasciare Asia Bibi, il ruolo di Figel è stato indirettamente messo in luce da una dichiarazione del novembre del 2018 da parte del network islamico militante Pakistano. La dichiarazione attaccava il governo di Imran Khan e gli alleati che stavano liberando Asia Bibi, e tra questi includevano Figel come alleato di questo governo.

    L’inviato speciale dell’Unione Europea ha detto di aver “realizzato a quel punto che sarei potuto diventare un obiettivo dell’estremismo violento. In fondo, hanno ucciso i difensori di Asia Bibi (come il ministro federale Shabbaz Bhatti, il governatore del Punjab Salman Taseer) e hanno molti seguaci all’estero”.

    Dopo il rilascio di Asia Bibi, non ha potuto visitare il Pakistan, ma ha potuto tenersi in contatto con Asia Bibi in maniera regolare, mentre lei era in custodia in un posto segreto in Punjab. “Abbiamo avuto anche frequenti scambi video ed audio grazie a un mio collaboratore in Punjab che è stato molto coraggioso. Asia Bibi è stata grata per la sentenza positiva e il fatto che i bambini fossero sicuri all’estero. Ma con i lunghi ritardi dovuti alla revisione giuridica della sentenza e nessuna certezza su come tutto si sarebbe evoluto, aveva bisogno di supporto umano e psicologico in alcuni periodi”.

    Dopo la sentenza positiva della Corte Suprema, era chiaro che la famiglia dovesse lasciare il Paese, e così sono cominciati i lavori per garantire alla famiglia assistenza umanitaria di emergenza in diverse nazioni. Si parlava di tre diverse nazioni europee e del Canada, e il Canada a dicembre ha confermato formalmente che avrebbe garantito asilo con una dichiarazione del Primo Ministro Justin Trudeau a Parigi, durate il centesimo anniversario della Prima Guerra Mondiale.

    Così, “con l’aiuto di un’altra nazione, le figlie di Asia Bibi e la famiglia che si prendeva cura di loro sono state portate da Lahore a un posto sicuro in Canada, l’unica nazione che era pronta ad accoglierlo”.

    I negoziati sono stati supportati dalla Santa Sede, e un segnale incoraggiante è venuto dalla decisione di Papa Francesco di creare cardinale l’arcivescovo di Karachi Joseph Coutts nel 2018.

    Quando Asia e suo marito Ashiq hanno avuto il passaporto e il permesso di viaggiare, “il Canada era l’unica destinazione logica dove la famiglia si sarebbe riunita. Questo è stato un tema decisivo. Altri governi hanno offerto assistenza, ma il Canada era la soluzione più semplice”.

    Figel ha aggiunto che “Asia Bibi è una donna mirabilmente coraggiosa e una madre attenta. Non ha mai abbandonato la sua fede cristiana, e se si fosse convertita avrebbe avuto la libertà immediata. Ha rappresentato un incoraggiamento per molti altri che affrontano accuse di blasfemia”.

    La sua figura può essere alla base di un movimento di riforma in Pakistan che tocca anche la legge sulla blasfemia. Non solo. Per Figel, tutto questo prova che l’Unione Europea è un “soft power che può facilitare positivi cambiamenti nel mondo su giustizia, sviluppo sostenibile, protezione dei diritti umani, attraverso una più efficiente promozione della Libertà Religiosa”.

    https://www.acistampa.com/story/asia-bibi-prime-parole-dal-canada-non-ho-mai-indebolito-la-mia-fede-12190

  • Asia Bibi thanks EU’s Figel in her first live message from exile

    “I want to thank an angel, a person who helped me from my imprisonment until now: that person is Jan Figel, the EU’s special envoy for Religious Freedom,” says Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row after being accused of blasphemy, in her first live message from her exile in Canada. “I am really grateful and thankful to him and I wish that God may provide more people like him,” she continued.

    In her message, recorded without showing her face for security reasons, Asia Bibi shows no hate, rather she is full of forgiveness and solidarity with all the victims in Pakistan.


    Video was recorded by Asia Bibi early September 2019. Translation from Urdu by Pakistani human right activist Mr. Muhammad Aman Ulla

    Asia Bibi decided to thank EU’s Jan Figel as a key person who negotiated her liberation. The Christian woman was convicted in 2010 after being falsely accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a row with her neighbours. She spent eight years on death row before last October, when Pakistan’s supreme court overturned her conviction, triggering violent protests throughout the nation and calls for the judges in the case to be killed. In that situation, Bibi was released but put in a legal limbo while waiting for the negotiations to find a country that could grant her asylum.

    The importance of Mr. Figel’s role was indirectly signalled by very harsh statement of the militant Pakistani islamist network against Pakistan Government “caving in to European Union”, published in early November 2018 in immediate reaction to the verdict of acquittal. Islamist groups have regularly called for Asia Bibi to be executed and activists say she would not have been safe had she stayed in Pakistan.

    “I realised how I may become a target of violent extremists…They killed Asia Bibi’s defenders in the past, they have many followers abroad as well,” Figel told The European Post.

    Figel has met Pakistani governmental officials and politicians both in Brussels and in Pakistan to secure Bibi’s liberation and safety since 2016. When the situation became unbearable, the EU’s representative linked the human rights conditions in Pakistan to the GSP+ trade agreement between the European Union and Pakistan: “The status quo is not enough! The country has to move forward with the implementation of important international treaties and commitments. We, the EU, support democratic reforms and equal, inclusive citizenship for all people in Pakistan, including minorities of Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, Sikhs and others,” he said.

    Three EU Member States and Canada offered their territory as a safe place to her. Notably, the U.K. was not on the list because of concerns of unrest and turmoil in the country. In December last year Canada formally confirmed its willingness to grant asylum, Prime Minister Trudeau announced publicly in Paris when he took part of the Peace Centennial anniversary of WWI. With the help of another country, Asia Bibi and her daughters have been relocated from Lahore to a safe place in Canada where they are now all living together.

    http://europeanpost.co/11717-2/