UK Detention Plan Amounts to Punishment Without Trial (HRW)

[struggle4progress]

Draft Antiterrorism Law Raises Serious Human Rights Concerns

(London, September 16, 2005) The British government’s proposal to extend the period that terrorism suspects can be detained without charge will undermine the rule of law and human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. <snip>

“The Law Lords last year rightly ruled that detention without trial is illegal and unacceptable,” said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Now the British government wants to lock up people who haven’t been charged with any crime for months at a time. Injustice is no answer to terrorism.”

The United Kingdom already allows terrorism suspects to be held without charge for up to 14 days. Suspects in regular criminal cases, including those charged with murder, can be held for a maximum of four days without charge. Detention for three months is equivalent to the average time served during a six-month sentence of imprisonment. The imposition of such prolonged detention without sufficient evidence even to merit a criminal charge may amount to punishment without trial. It seriously undermines the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and the right of an arrested person to be informed promptly of any charge against him. <snip>

“Directly inciting violence is already a crime in Britain,” said Cartner. “These overly broad new offenses will have a chilling effect on free speech in the classroom, the newsroom and the mosque.” <snip>

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/16/uk11751_txt.htm