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Britain signals new anti-terrorism law drive

Posted on: Thursday, 11 August 2005, 23:08 CDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday as part of an anti-terrorism drive it may reform laws to force judges to give equal weight to national security as well as human rights in the cases of foreign nationals facing deportation.

Lord Falconer, head of Britain's judiciary and a minister in Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour government, said he defended the human rights role of judges and would seek an amendment to the law only if his hand were forced.

Britain's courts have previously thwarted expulsion measures because the European Convention on Human Rights says deportees must be protected from torture or other mistreatment,.

Falconer said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper "things changed" after four bombers killed 52 people in London on July 7 and that the law must reflect this position.

"What I am talking about is a bill which says this is the correct interpretation of the Human Rights Act," said Falconer.

"All law operates on the basis that if the facts change, then the law changes -- and the law is going to change."

He said the amended law would set out how to weigh the rights of national security with the right of a deportee to be free from torture or ill-treatment.

But human rights groups warned against what they called turning a blind eye to torture.

Blair has been under domestic pressure to act against foreign nationals who condone or incite terrorism after the July 7 bombings and another wave of attacks on July 21.

He told a news conference earlier this month he would seek powers to expel militants.

The government says it will obtain signed assurances from the home countries of the foreign nationals that they will not abuse those deported. But human rights groups have rejected the assurances as worthless.

Britain detained 10 people on Thursday, including the alleged spiritual leader of al Qaeda in Europe, saying they were a threat to national security and would be deported.

Lawyer Gareth Peirce, who represents seven of those held, said Blair's plans were "insane and dangerous government at its worst."

"The prime minister is wrong," she said. "The rules of the game have not changed. The rules ... cannot be changed for the purposes of political grandstanding."

Falconer played down suggestions the government was seeking to erode human rights or was locked in a battle with the judiciary over its proposed new powers.

"People are saying it is the judges on behalf of civil liberties against the executive who are determined to clamp down on terrorism," he said. "We have got to get the right balance and ultimately where the balance lies is a matter for parliament."

Source: REUTERS

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