London, UK, December 6 – The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued a damning indictment on the proposed measures in the Government's Terrorism Bill, which is currently before the House of Lords. They condemned the plan to outlaw the "glorification" of terrorism and ban non-violent political parties for allegedly "glorifying terrorism", attacked the proposed offence of disseminating terrorist publications and said incarcerating terror suspects for up to 28 days without charge was disproportionate.
In relation to government plans to widen the grounds for proscription, the Committee asserted that, "extending the grounds of proscription to cover organisations glorifying acts of terrorism is unlikely to be compatible with the right to freedom of _expression in Article 10 ECHR or the right to freedom of association in Article 11 ECHR."
Dr Imran Waheed, a media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, said, "It is emerging that strong opposition to the government's proposals comes not only from the Muslim community. The report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights comes in the wake of revelations that the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office's own taskforce on extremism have stated their opposition to these measures."
"In addition, the Government has claimed that these proposals have the support of the Muslim community. Nothing could be further from the truth – almost every major Muslim organisation has stated their opposition to them. Over 180 leading organisations and personalities including town councillors, lawyers, imams and community leaders have signed a statement against these laws. This Saturday, thousands of Muslims from across the UK will turn out to protest against these measures at an unprecedented national demonstration."
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Notes to Editors:
National demonstration entitled "March for Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya Before they make it a crime" will take place on Saturday 10th December 2005. Demonstrators will assemble in Parliament Square [Abingdon Street] at 12 p.m. before marching to Hyde Park where there will be a number of speeches by prominent people opposed to the proposed anti-terror laws. The demonstration is expected to arrive at Hyde Park at 1.30 p.m.
