Countering terrorism
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Human rights law requires the State to take steps to protect the right to life – which includes measures to prevent terrorism.
However, any measures taken to counter terrorism must be proportionate and not undermine our democratic values. In particular, laws designed to protect people from the threat of terrorism, and the enforcement of these laws, must be compatible with people’s rights and freedoms.
Yet, all too often, the risk of terrorism has been used as the basis for eroding our human rights and civil liberties:
- From 1969 to 2000 Parliament passed a number of temporary Prevention of Terrorism Acts, which included powers of internment and the removal of the right to trial by jury in Northern Ireland;
- After the tragic events of 11 September 2001, emergency laws were passed which allowed for the indefinite detention of foreign nationals, who were suspected of being terrorists. Under this law, individuals could be detained for an unlimited period at a maximum security prison de...
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