MRS SHAGUFTA KAUSAR AND MR SHAFQAT EMMANUEL

Early day motion 914, tabled 6 February 2018 by Jim Shannon (DUP). Signed by 12 members.

That this House is deeply concerned about the death sentence imposed on Mrs Shagufta Kausar and Mr Shafqat Emmanuel, a married couple, for allegedly sending blasphemous text messages; notes that the messages were written in English, but both are illiterate and unable to write proper Urdu, let alone English; further notes that the couple have repeatedly said they lost the phone in question before the texts were sent, and that the SIM card in the phone was not theirs; expresses concern that throughout the trial, the complainants' lawyers intimidated the judge by repeatedly proclaiming Quranic references calling for death to blasphemers and appeals to the Government of Pakistan to release them, so that they can live together with their four children, as a family.

Signatures by party: DUP 5, Conservative 3, Labour 3, Independent 1.