The House of Commons passed a resolution Monday night condemning the death sentence placed on an Afghan journalist for blasphemy.
The rare show of all-party solidarity adds Canada's voice to a growing international outcry over the case of Sayad Parwez Kambaksh, convicted two weeks ago by a court in northern Afghanistan on a charge of insulting Islam.
"In the defence of journalists, in the defence of human rights, it was important that Canada speak up," said NDP Leader Jack Layton, who sponsored the motion.
"I'm pleased that the other patties accepted our proposal - and let's hope that it sends a very strong message." ...
Although the sentence is under appeal, Layton's motion on Monday proposed a more direct route to resolve the matter.
It called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government to lobby the Karzai administration "to have all criminal proceedings against Sayad Parwez Kambaksh immediately abandoned."
Canadian diplomats in Kabul have voiced concern about the case to Afghan authorities, but Harper and his key ministers have had little to say publicly. Layton expressed hope that a more vigorous effort will be forthcoming.
"We were very clear in the motion and there was no opposition from the (Harper) government," said the NDP leader. "We now expect the government to respect the will of Parliament."
Here's the text of the motion, taken from Hansard:
That this House condemns the proposed execution of the Afghan journalism student, Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, and calls on the Government of Canada to intervene with the government of Afghanistan to have all criminal proceedings against Sayed Pervez Kambaksh immediately abandoned.