Cherie warns on anti-terror moves
The Cleaner | 27.07.2005 10:04 | Terror War
Civil liberties must not be undermined by the government as it responds to the London bomb attacks, prime minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie has warned.
It would be "all too easy" to fight back in a way "which cheapens our right to call ourselves a civilised nation", said the barrister in Malaysia.
She stressed her remarks should not be seen as making light of the attacks.
Mr Blair says extra powers being looked at include extending the time people can be held without charge.
'Ethical responsibilities'
Cherie, a QC who practises under her maiden name Booth, said: "Nothing I say here could possibly be construed as making light of those horrible acts of violence, or of the responsibility imposed on the UK and other governments to keep the public safe, or of the difficult and dangerous task performed by the police and intelligence services."
But, she added "at the same time it is all too easy for us to respond to such terror in a way which undermines commitment to our most deeply held values and convictions and which cheapens our right to call ourselves a civilised nation".
The QC, addressing an audience of 1,000 lawyers, civil servants and diplomats in Malaysia, said judges made rulings in a way that taught citizens and government about the "ethical responsibilities" of participating in a true democracy committed to "universal human rights standards".
She said courts should be "guardians of the weakest, poorest and most marginalised members of society against the hurly-burly of majoritarian politics".
A good example of this working was the decision by the UK's highest court, the House of Lords law lords, that the UK's policy of holding foreign terrorist suspects indefinitely without charge broke human rights laws.
Wake-up call?
"What the case makes clear is that the government, even in times when there is a threat to national security, must act strictly in accordance with the law," she said.
Continues:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4719977.stm
She stressed her remarks should not be seen as making light of the attacks.
Mr Blair says extra powers being looked at include extending the time people can be held without charge.
'Ethical responsibilities'
Cherie, a QC who practises under her maiden name Booth, said: "Nothing I say here could possibly be construed as making light of those horrible acts of violence, or of the responsibility imposed on the UK and other governments to keep the public safe, or of the difficult and dangerous task performed by the police and intelligence services."
But, she added "at the same time it is all too easy for us to respond to such terror in a way which undermines commitment to our most deeply held values and convictions and which cheapens our right to call ourselves a civilised nation".
The QC, addressing an audience of 1,000 lawyers, civil servants and diplomats in Malaysia, said judges made rulings in a way that taught citizens and government about the "ethical responsibilities" of participating in a true democracy committed to "universal human rights standards".
She said courts should be "guardians of the weakest, poorest and most marginalised members of society against the hurly-burly of majoritarian politics".
A good example of this working was the decision by the UK's highest court, the House of Lords law lords, that the UK's policy of holding foreign terrorist suspects indefinitely without charge broke human rights laws.
Wake-up call?
"What the case makes clear is that the government, even in times when there is a threat to national security, must act strictly in accordance with the law," she said.
Continues:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4719977.stm
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