An island nation in Africa requests that the EU recall Isabelle Delattre Burger, its ambassador, for criticizing a rule that permits chemical castration of those found guilty of child rape.
According to officials, Madagascar has demanded that the European Union replace its ambassador to the island nation, who has been critical of a recent law that permits the punishment of child rapists through castration.
Madagascar has requested that Brussels replace the envoy, an AFP news agency representative for the European Commission said on Thursday.
Nabila Massrali told AFP over the phone from Brussels that “Madagascar’s foreign affairs minister addressed a letter to the high commissioner to express his dissatisfaction… and to ask the EU proceed to replace the head of its delegation in Madagascar.”
She stated that regular rotations of ambassadors are scheduled to begin in September and that the EU is now reviewing the demand “in consultation with the Malagasy government”.
The chief of communications for Madagascar’s ministry of foreign affairs, Clara Randrianjara, told AFP that “this letter should have remained confidential” but she would not elaborate.
EU’s censure
An act authorizing the chemical and surgical castration of anyone found guilty of raping youngsters was approved by the Madagascar parliament at the beginning of February.
The action was denounced as “cruel, inhuman, and degrading” by Amnesty International.
A few weeks later, the bill was denounced at a news conference by Isabelle Delattre Burger, the ambassador of the European Union, who has previously expressed disapproval of the government, calling it “contrary even to the Madagascar constitution” and against international standards.
After the remarks, she was called to the Foreign Ministry.
The European Union is among the primary donors to Madagascar, a country with a population of 29 million people that mostly depends on foreign aid. Approximately 75% of them live in poverty.
The contentious bill’s surgical castration section was upheld by Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court at the end of February. Chemical castration, on the other hand, was not included since it is “temporary and reversible” and does not “permanently neutralize sexual predators.”
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
