Amnesty slams terror laws as 'ill-conceived and dangerous'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans for tough new anti-terror laws have been roasted by Amnesty International, as MPs prepared to debate the measures.

In a submission to MPs, Amnesty denounced plans to increase police powers of detention and make a new offence of the "glorification" of terrorism. It called the measures "ill-conceived and dangerous" and an attack on "the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law".

The onslaught came as ministers braced themselves for sustained opposition to the Terrorism Bill when it is debated in the Commons.

The bill has already been condemned by senior judges, lawyers and civil liberties groups.

A combination of opposition and rebel Labour MPs are preparing to vote against powers to hold suspects for up to 90 days without trial. They also plan to oppose the creation of a glorification offence.

Amnesty's attack comes after a warning from Lord Carlile of Berriew, the Government's terror watchdog, that 90-day detention could breach human rights law.

Amnesty said the bill contained "sweeping provisions that undermine the rights to freedom of expression and association, the right to liberty, the rights to the presumption of innocence and fair trial".

On the "glorification of terrorism", it said "such terms are broad, vague and subjective. They have no legal clarity and can, therefore, be used arbitrarily to restrict rights, including freedom of expression".

The measures proposed after the bombings in London on July 7 were "inconsistent with obligations under human rights law and would lead to severe violations".

Amnesty made clear its alarm at the potential for new powers to be abused.

"Once any government begins to 'sacrifice' human rights in the name of security, it is not long before individuals pay the price."

Amnesty said anti-terror laws had already led to abuse of power, as seen with police action against peaceful protesters under laws "originally introduced to counter terrorism".

The group said every element of Blair's proposed laws "signalled further assaults on human rights, particularly for those identified as Muslims, foreign nationals and asylum-seekers".

Government statements linking the terror threat with foreigners were "encouraging xenophobia, racism and hate crimes", it said.

But the Government's case for 90-day detention was supported by Andy Hayman, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Hayman, who is leading the hunt for al Qaeda sympathisers in Britain, said: "We should not allow a premature guillotine to frustrate or prevent the gathering of best evidence."

Ministers are expected to delay any concessions until next week - and before the bill reaches the House of Lords - after the Government has assessed the strength of opposition.

Ministers have already conceded that judges more senior than originally proposed in the plans would approve the renewal of detention orders every seven days.

Labour MP David Winnick has tabled a proposal suggesting the period be set at 28 days. He said such a move would win support across the Commons and the Lords would find it hard to overturn.

Opposition parties and civil liberties groups have claimed that the "glorification" proposal is so vaguely worded that it could, for instance, make criminals of people who criticise regimes in Burma or Zimbabwe.

Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "Detention without charge for three months goes against fundamental principles of justice. I hope Labour backbenchers recognise it as such."

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We believe this bill is compliant with human rights requirement under the European Convention. All the proposals that have been made in the bill allow prosecutions through the normal court process."

Freedom's struggle

* Law changes 2000-2005 Powers introduced to hold suspects without charge for 7 days - increased to 14 in 2003.
* Terror offences created, such as incitement and instruction.
* Foreign suspects could be held indefinitely without trial if they could not be deported. Terrorism Act 2005 Repealed powers to detain foreign suspects without charge.
* Introduced "control orders". Terrorism Bill 2005 Creates offence of glorifying terrorism, attending a training camp and preparing terrorist acts.
* It also gives police powers to hold suspects for up to 90 days.

- INDEPENDENT