COUNTER-TERRORISM BILL 2007: INTENSIFYING THE UK’S SECURITY CLIMATE
As the British government gets ready to introduce its Counter-Terrorism Bill 2007 to Parliament, more and more voices are raising serious objection to these latest counter-terrorism measures. The proposed powers – which include the power to seizure passports at airports and other ports of entry to the UK on a mere suspicion and the confiscation of complex assets such as houses and flats – are draconian and indicative of a wider trend towards curtailing the hard-won civil liberties of the citizens of the United Kingdom. The lead article of Islamism Digest – by academic Anne Costello and former headteacher and school inspector Saleh Mamon – provides a detailed account of the new powers and argues that these measures could potentially affect anyone in the United Kingdom. This makes it all the more urgent to actively lobby parliament and other centres of power to resist these new measures.
CULTS AND TERRORISM: EBRAHIM KHODABANDEH EXPLAINS
In this highly unique and fascinating interview with Islamism Digest, Ebrahim Khodabandeh, a former senior member of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organisation (MEK), explains the group’s transformation from insurgent organisation to totalitarian and terrorist cult. Khodabandeh talks freely about his recent experiences, including his detention by the Syrian authorities in April 2003 and subsequent extradition to Iran where he was recently sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment. Despite his sentence Khodabandeh explains why he is living freely in Iran and warns Western governments that the MEK may launch terrorist attacks against them.
THE IRANIAN POINT OF VIEW ON TERRORISM: INTERVIEW WITH JAVAD SHARBAF
In an interview with Islamism Digest, the director of the Neda Institute of Political Sciences (an independent Tehran-based research and consultancy organisation that specialises in the study of Israeli politics and society) explains the Iranian experience with terrorism. Moreover, Sharbaf explains the flawed process of nation-state building in Israel and argues that this is at the core of the Jewish state’s perennial feeling of insecurity. Furthermore, according to Sharbaf, the Palestinian people are the greatest victims of modern terrorism.
CHARITY AND TERRORISM: DR ABDEL-KARIM BENSIALI EXPLAINS THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
In the second part of a two-part interview this Algerian-born charity manager, health and safety expert and risk analyst critically appraises the United Kingdom Home Office’s consultation document on charity and terrorism which was released in May 2007. Moreover, Bensiali advises everyone concerned to allow the competent authorities to investigate possible abuses by charities and refrain from making unfounded allegations.
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