UK bill could be a defining moment in human rights

25 January 2008, 01:43PM

The UK government's new Counter-Terrorism Bill proposes giving police the power to detain terrorism suspects for 42 days. We have urged MPs and the public to show their opposition to the proposals, in what could be a "defining moment" for human rights in the UK.

When the time comes to vote on the bill, which was published on 24 January 2008, we feel MPs should draw a line in the sand on this issue, once and for all. The government cannot keep chipping away at people's rights without those rights eventually being severely diminished.

Our members across the UK are meeting their constituency MPs, urging them to oppose the plans to extend the time for which police can hold terrorism suspects without charge. We are also asking people to sign the "Not a Day Longer" e-petition on the No.10 website.

It's time for people to stand up to the government and tell them that they won't let their liberties be taken away from them. We need to show the Prime Minister that the public doesn't want these draconian measures.

The vast majority of people in Britain resolutely oppose to terrorism. They want anyone suspected of trying to murder large numbers of innocent people to be tried before a judge and jury and, if guilty, punished with the full weight of the law. But once we start using oppressive laws, counter-terrorism methods can soon take on the appearance of persecution.

There is a lot of talk about winning "hearts and minds" in the fight against terrorism. But if pre-charge detention limits are raised once again, the communities likely to be most affected are going to see the government's words as very hollow.

The UK's standing as a country that respects human rights is undermined every time a new draconian measure is introduced. How can the UK's Foreign Secretary stand in front of his Chinese counterpart and argue against arbitrary detention when his colleagues at home are seeking the power to lock people up for six weeks without charge?

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