Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab)
I have a petition signed by many people in the west midlands and across the country, who ask the House of Commons to urge the Government to appeal to India to take immediate action to stop the human rights abuses facing minorities in India; that India should sign and ratify the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court and the UN charter against torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, which encompasses the death penalty; and thus India should abolish the death penalty.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The Petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the Petitioners believe that the UK Government, together with the UN and EU, should encourage the Indian Union to take immediate action to stop human rights abuses facing minorities in India and that India should sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the UN Charter against torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment which encompasses the death penalty and thus India should abolish the death penalty as it is a cruel, inhumane or degrading form of punishment; further declares that the UK Government should campaign to stop Balwant Singh Rajoana's death sentence and have him released from jail as he has served 17 years in custody and that the Indian Union should release all prisoners facing the same situation and those who have been imprisoned without trial.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to appeal to India for the above actions to be taken, and request that the Government bring these issues to light in the European Union and United Nations.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
[P001164]