HINDU HUMAN RIGHTS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Early day motion 143, tabled 7 November 2007 by Virendra Sharma (Labour). Signed by 47 members.

That this House is deeply concerned about the harassment and human rights abuses taking place in Kazakhstan against the minority Hindu communities; further notes that the local Kazakhstan government has demolished housing belonging to 100 Hindus without following any procedure, protocol or observance of human rights and has officially ordered the demolition of a Hindu temple and dairy farm that continues to be under threat; notes that despite these violations of human rights Kazakhstan is seeking to Chair the Organisation of Safety and Co-operation in Europe, a body that safeguards human rights in Europe; calls on the British Government to exert pressure on the Kazakhstan government to guarantee and promote human rights and religious freedom in Kazakhstan, return confiscated land, homes and property to Hindus and their religious institutions and compensate them for destroyed property; and urges the British Government to work with its European partners to prevent Kazakhstan chairing the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe and to end human rights abuses in Kazakhstan.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 9, Conservative 3, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.