EU anti-terrorism measures discriminate, “strip away” rights

EU anti-terrorism measures discriminate, “strip away” rights

NAN-F-16

Discrimination
Brussels, Jan. 17, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Sweeping counter-terrorism laws introduced by several EU member states are disproportionate and undermine fundamental freedoms, a report by human rights watchdog Amnesty International that was released on Tuesday said.

The report analyzed counter-terrorism legislation passed by 14 EU member states over the past two years.

It found that these laws often enhanced government powers to increase surveillance and restricted freedom of expression.

Surveillance powers have been expanded by Britain, France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and elsewhere, allowing governments to access data from millions of people, the report found.

The report said that the effect of such laws has been “particularly profound” on foreigners, ethnic groups and religious minorities.

“EU governments are using counter-terrorism measures to consolidate draconian powers.

“It has targeted groups in discriminatory ways and strip away human rights under the guise of defending them,’’ John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Director for Europe said.

The report found that an increasing number of countries had made it easier to declare states of emergency and grant special powers to security services with little judicial oversight.

Amnesty also warned that the so-called “pre-crime” initiatives aimed at preventing terrorist attacks have led to the restriction on people’s freedom of movement of many countries. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Julius Enehikhuere)