Islamic Human Rights Commission

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15 September 2005

Press Release: Clarke’s Proposals will lead to Greater Miscarriages of Justice

The Islamic Human Rights Commission is outraged at Charles Clarke’s latest anti-terror proposals which include detaining terror suspects for three months without charge.

IHRC notes that an identical law is in operation in Algeria who is regularly condemned for its poor human rights record by the UN and others.

IHRC notes that Britain has a very poor history of miscarriages of justice involving terror suspects both from the Irish community and more recently, the Muslim community.

IHRC regards the latest measures to outlaw “glorification” of terrorism and “acts preparatory to terrorism” as unworkable and yet another infringement on basic rights including freedom of speech and association.

IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh stated:

“These measures, coupled with faulty British intelligence, will increase the witch-hunt against Muslims similar to that conducted against the Irish community. Let us not forget that even the current Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain was placed under surveillance whilst a young activist.”

“If criminalisation of glorification is the way forward, why don’t we have legislation against the glorification of drug use and gangsterism which kills many more people than terrorism. ”

For more information please contact (+44) 20 8904 4222, or (44) 7958 522196 or email:info@ihrc.org.[ ENDS ]

Islamic Human Rights Commission

PO Box 598

Wembley

HA9 7XH

United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222

Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183

Email: info@ihrc.org

Web: www.ihrc.org

info@ihrc.org