February 2001 World Headlines

Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - Web posted at 9:25:49 AM GMT

Britain introduces new law to curb terrorist activities

LONDON - New laws intended to prevent radical foreign groups using Britain as a base for promoting violent campaigns in their home countries came into force yesterday.

The new legislation replaces the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1973 which focused almost entirely on the paramilitary threat from Northern Ireland.

Under the new law other groups can now be added to a list of banned organisations and radical Muslim groups are likely to be early targets.

Ministers have not said which organisations will be banned but the interior ministry is said to be drafting a list.

This is likely to include Sri Lankan's rebel Tamil Tigers, the Kurdistan Workers' Party and Muslim groups Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Hezbollah, informed sources said.

Once an organisation is included on the banned list, it becomes illegal to be a member of the group, support it financially, display its emblems or share a platform with a member of the group at a meeting.

The legislation was enacted partly in response to pressure from some foreign governments complaining that Britain is a soft touch for radical groups plotting violent action against them.

Muslim radicals based in Britain have admitted that they raise cash for affiliated groups waging paramilitary wars in places like Yemen, Kashmir and Chechnya.

In addition, hundreds of British Muslim men are known to travel abroad each year to train in guerrilla warfare.

Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, British-based leader of the radical Islamic group Al Muhajiroun, said the law was "a threat to Muslims."

We abide by Islamic law and we condemn terrorism, but we have to support the freedom fighters who are involved in wars with the occupiers of Palestine, Chechnya and Kashmir," he told BBC radio. - Nampa-Sapa-AFP