Post by RedFlag32 on May 23, 2007 23:41:15 GMT
UK ERODING HUMAN RIGHTS - AMNESTY REPORT
The United Kingdom is continuing to erode fundamental human
rights, Amnesty International claimed in its annual report
today.
London's "continued failure" to set up an inquiry into the
1989 killing of Northern Ireland human rights lawyer Patrick
Finucane was listed among the reasons for its findings.
The human rights organization said the UK government was
also damaging the rule of law and the independence of the
judiciary - particularly in relation to its anti-terror
legislation.
The allegations, contained in the charity's annual breakdown
of human rights around the globe, focused on the Terrorism
Act 2006, which doubled the amount of time terror suspects
can be detained without charge to 28 days.
"Some of its provisions were inconsistent with fundamental
human rights," the report said.
It also criticized the UK's emphasis on deporting terror
suspects or placing them under control orders rather than
subjecting them to criminal prosecution.
Control orders are a controversial measure which places
suspects under a loose form of house arrest. The report
said: "Consequent judicial proceedings were profoundly
unfair, denying individuals the right to a fair hearing,
including because of heavy reliance on secret hearings."
Amnesty's document also criticized the record 80,000 prison
population in England and Wales, which it said was "linked
with self-harm and self-inflicted deaths".
The United Kingdom is continuing to erode fundamental human
rights, Amnesty International claimed in its annual report
today.
London's "continued failure" to set up an inquiry into the
1989 killing of Northern Ireland human rights lawyer Patrick
Finucane was listed among the reasons for its findings.
The human rights organization said the UK government was
also damaging the rule of law and the independence of the
judiciary - particularly in relation to its anti-terror
legislation.
The allegations, contained in the charity's annual breakdown
of human rights around the globe, focused on the Terrorism
Act 2006, which doubled the amount of time terror suspects
can be detained without charge to 28 days.
"Some of its provisions were inconsistent with fundamental
human rights," the report said.
It also criticized the UK's emphasis on deporting terror
suspects or placing them under control orders rather than
subjecting them to criminal prosecution.
Control orders are a controversial measure which places
suspects under a loose form of house arrest. The report
said: "Consequent judicial proceedings were profoundly
unfair, denying individuals the right to a fair hearing,
including because of heavy reliance on secret hearings."
Amnesty's document also criticized the record 80,000 prison
population in England and Wales, which it said was "linked
with self-harm and self-inflicted deaths".