Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long
as ever you can.
John Wesley
| Text size: +/-Anti-Terrorism Measures
Global terrorist threats raise important issues concerning the balance between civil liberties and measures to protect us from terrorist acts.
The Methodist Church is sympathetic to the complexity of the Government's responsibility to ensure the security of its citizens. This must not be at the expense of our traditions of liberty and justice.
The European Convention on Human Rights, which is part of UK law, is an important guarantor of personal freedoms and liberties. The Government can choose to opt-out (derogate) from part of the Convention in certain circumstances, and some people have recommended that this should happened so that anti-terrorism measures can be more robust. However, it is the judgement of many that this must not happen.
In the aftermath of the July 2005 bombing attacks on London's transport network, there has been an upsurge in violence directed against Muslims and some minority ethnic groups. It is all the more important in this context that new anti-terror legislation is proportionate in nature and has the wide acceptance of all. The Methodist Church has consistently worked for a peaceful and integrated society which excludes and persecutes no-one.
Political Controversy
Terrorism is a highly political issue. The debate centres on what is an appropriate response to protect the public but also to maintain our traditional rights and freedoms.
British anti-terrorist legislation now allows terrorist suspects to be placed under ‘control orders'. Terrorist suspects can also be detained for up to 28 days before being charged or released. These powers are subject to independent judicial oversight.
A new Counter-Terrorism Bill is currently going through Parliament.
Links
Integration and Cohesion
Our Response to Terrorism
Download
Methodist Church Response to the Government Consultation – Preventing Extremism Together: Places of Worship
