Britain's tough anti-terror measures draw mix of fury and applause

Agence France-Presse:

05/08/2005 16h21

LONDON (AFP) - Human rights experts and a radical Islamic group blasted a raft of new powers to combat terrorism in Britain unveiled by Prime Minister Tony Blair, while mainstream Muslims applauded them.

Drawn up in the wake of the London bombings, the measures include a possible review of human rights laws, the banning of certain hardline Islamic groups and tougher rules to deport foreign nationals linked to terrorism.

The London-based human rights group Liberty strongly criticised the measures. "The fundamental values of a democracy cannot be changed because we are provoked by terrorists," said Liberty's director Shami Chakrabarti.

"Liberty is very disappointed by the prime minister's remarks. We want a unifying leader, not one who sows the seeds of discord," she said.

"We are deeply concerned that the criminal offence of condoning, glorifying, or justifying terrorism is broad enough to catch moderate as well as ranting politicians and religious spokespeople."

Talks with Algeria, Lebanon and several other countries to allow Britain to deport their nationals without fear of torture, also triggered concern.

"We are alarmed by his intention to return individuals to countries where they may face torture," said Chakrabarti. "Torturing, or sending people to face torture, can never be justified."

Similarly, a plan to outlaw the radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain was slammed as "most unjust" by a spokesman for the organisation.

"By doing this, he (Blair) is setting an example to the tyrant rulers of the Muslim world, encouraging them to further suppress their populations," said Imran Waheed. "Hizb ut-Tahrir is a non-violent political party.

"It has had a history of non-violence for the last 50 years and these measures are like what we have seen in Uzbekistan where President (Islam) Karimov has been burning his political opponents alive," he said.

Waheed appeared to be referring to a military crackdown that claimed several hundred lives in eastern Uzbekistan in May, which the Uzbek government said was a response to a plot by Hizb ut-Tahrir to seize power in the country.

"Our members are all for political expression, not for violence," said the spokesman. Hizb ut-Tahrir, or the Party of Islamic Liberation, is a Sunni movement founded in the Middle East in the 1950s.

It established itself in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia 10 years ago and reportedly wants to create an Islamic state in the region.

Russia's Supreme Court classified the group as a "terrorist" organisation in February 2003. It is, however, legal in most Western countries, though Germany has imposed a ban due to the group's anti-Semitism.

In contrast to the negative comments sparked by Blair's tough measures, two mainstream British Muslim groups largely welcomed them, noting that rules to counter the threat of foreign extremists were long overdue.

"We are frustrated to the bone with some of these people in the name of our great religion, in the name of our way of life, going day after day and causing damage to our way of life here," Omar Farooq of the Islamic Society of Britain told BBC Radio.

Similarly, Inayat Bunglawala of the Muslim Council of Britain gave a thumbs up to many of Blair's proposals.

"Some of the measures are quite sensible and are perhaps overdue," he said, while also noting that the council would seek assurances from the government that expressions of support for Muslims overseas, such as the Palestinians or the Chechens, would not be outlawed.

At the same time, both Bunglawala and Farooq warned against banning Hizb ut-Tahrir. Farooq said the group had been growing weaker and its new-found notoriety may boost its appeal.

For its part a spokesman for the Law Society, which regulates and represents lawyers in Britain, said it was important to strike a balance between tough laws and human rights.

"We will study the detail of the proposals with care," he said.