Rockbites: Amnesty Int’l questions UK’s Terrorism Act

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February 2001 • Rockbites Alternative Daily

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Amnesty Int’l questions UK’s Terrorism Act
21 February 2001

(As a human rights oriented Web site—we’re here to raise funds for human rights as well as to expose cutting edge pop—Rockbites occasionally brings you non-music-related stories. Here’s one.)

The United Kingdom on Monday brought into force a set of provisions called Terrorism Act 2000. According to human rights activist organization Amnesty International, the Act’s provisions confer sweeping powers to arrest and detain individuals suspected of terrorist association, to force journalists to hand over information, and to limit freedom of expression of individuals and groups. Amnesty says they have “grave concerns” about the Act and will “monitor its implementation.”
    Amnesty writes “The creation of a permanent distinct system of arrest, detention and prosecution relating to 'terrorist offences' may violate the internationally recognized right of all people to be equal before the courts. This different treatment is not based on the seriousness of the criminal act itself but rather on the motivation behind the act, defined in the Act as 'political, religious or ideological'.”
    Among Amnesty’s specific fears is the Act’s loose definition of terrorism, which, they say, “...could be extended to include supporters of, for example, animal liberation or antinuclear campaigns and others.”
    The Act waives the requirement for arrest warrants. Persons arrested under its provisions can be denied access to a lawyer for up to 48 hours. Under the Act there is no presumption of innocence—the burden of proof shifts from the prosecutor to the accused.
    Amnesty says they are “...concerned that provisions in the Terrorism Act contravene UK obligations under international human rights law. Furthermore, many provisions are open to abuse by law enforcement officials, and the Act fails to provide adequate safeguards against such abuse.”
    British civil liberties group MagnaCartaPlus has also posted concerns about the act, available on their site. | AI press release | | Amnesty International | | Terrorism Act 2000 | | Commentary by MagnaCartaPlus | | top of page |

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