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New Anti-Terror Laws
In the last week, the British parliament has instituted new anti-terrorism laws which significantly increase the power available to the Home Secretary, the Minister responsible for internal security.
Opponents of the new bill see it as a threat to basic human rights and to the principles of Magma Carter, the document on which much of English law is based.
After a marathon session involving both houses of government, a compromise was reached between the government, the opposition parties and the House of Lords.
Whilst the final bill gives the Minister less power than originally intended, it still allows him to operate above the judiciary in placing terrorism suspects under house arrest without trial.
Social commentator Mal Fletcher says that new laws relating to security should be based upon the needs of those they intend to protect rather than simply a reaction to the perpetrators of crime.
'We need to be vigilant against terrorism, without doubt,' he said, 'but we also need to watch that governments do not take opportunity to increase their powers beyond reasonable democratic limits.'
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(For the full editorial on this site, click here.)
Keywords: terrorism | anti-terrorism | laws | Magna Carta | House of Commons | British Parliament | human rights | Home Secretary | anti-terrorism laws | comment | social comment
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Hey Mal - great article on your trip to Bradford!!
Dan, United Kingdom
Hey Mal, I'm blessed to come across this site. I believe it was a plan of God to hear you. I'm a leader in our church in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Be blessed!
Sindile, South Africa
Hey Mal and the guys at NWI!! Just to say thank heaps for all the work that you are doing! A special thanks to Mal for coming to LIFT this year - your messages were just awesome!
Abs, United Kingdom
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