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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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Mal, I would like to congratulate you for your TV show,
I find it very interesting and informative.
Juan, Denmark
I watched Mal's inspiring EDGES presentation on bioethics. Scientists who do genuine research are a boon to humanity. Physicians do everything they can, fighting to save a life. This is based on the image of the Creator in every human being.
Rev Canon Dr Lakshman Peiris
Mal, thankyou for provoking me to think more. Your ministry is giving people a real wake up call, provoking Christians to seriously think about how we ought to be responding to issues like celebrity.
Kendal , United Kingdom
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