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September 22, 2004
Justice
It looks like David Blunkett has learned a new dance, called the Detention Okey Cokey. It goes something like this:You lock the inncocent up.
You let the inncocent out.
In, out, in, out, you shake them all about.
You free 'em on a whim and then you bang them up.
That's what it's all about.
Three years ago, an Algerian identified only as 'D' (cue Patrick McGoohan shouting "I am a man, not a numberletter) was arrested under Blunkett's Terrorism Act and detained at Woodhill high-security jail since December 2001. He couldn't be deported to Algeria as his life would be in danger if he returned, yet was detained for being an active supporter of GIA (Groupe Islamique Armee), a charge he denied.
According to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, 'D' was a practised and accomplished liar and therefore his denials were not to be believed. Two seperate appeals upheld his detention though he was never charged and faced no trial during his three year stretch in prison.
Today he is a free man, at least for now. According to Blunkett the evidence no longer justified his detention but he stated that In revoking D's certificate I have made clear that any further activities that are assessed to be a threat to national security could lead to him being certified again.
So 'D' was arrested and detained for being a member of a proscribed organisation, an accusation he repeatedly denied, held without trial for three years, then released, but warned that he could be detained again at any time if the state so decides.
What sort of a justice system is that? It's as arbitrary as arresting someone for walking on the cracks in the pavement. We're supposed to be a civilised country, but this is the sort of behaviour usually reported as happening under repressive and dictatorial regimes. Is this how low we've fallen? How can it be that the country that passed the Habeas Corpus Act onto the statute books in 1679 in order to prevent the abusive detention of persons without legal authority can now treat it with such contempt? And remember, while today the target is on muslim immigrants, tomorrow it could be Countryside Alliance supporters, animal rights protestors or any group that holds strong opinions contrary to government policy. Tomorrow it could be you.
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Posted by Clive on September 22, 2004 11:11 AM in the category Old Stuff