|
Britain to Toughen Asylum, Overhaul Immigration and Hate Crime Laws
BRIGHTON, England, Oct 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - British Home Secretary David Blunkett unveiled plans Wednesday to toughen anti-terrorism and asylum laws in the wake of devastating terrorist attacks in the United States, and announced emergency legislation to make incitement to religious hatred a crime.
"One of the most basic freedoms of all is the freedom from hate," Blunkett told the annual conference of Britain's ruling Labor Party in Brighton, southern England.
The new hate crime legislation was prompted by fears of a backlash against British Muslims over the September 11th strikes on America, which left close to 6,000 dead or presumed dead and have been pinned on Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden by U.S. President George W. Bush.
The laws will reassure members of Britain's two million-strong Muslim community, who have been targeted in a number of attacks since September 11th.
In one of the worst backlash attacks, an Afghani taxi driver near London was beaten so badly that he was paralyzed from the neck down.
The backlash against Muslims living in the United States has cost at least three lives - only one of whom was actually a Muslim - and incidents of harassment and hate crimes reported to the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations have totaled close to 800 so far.
A BBC online report quoted Blunkett as saying that British race hate laws would be extended to cover religion to help "those who are faced with that form of hatred and bigotry."
Meanwhile, stepping up its fight against terrorism, Britain intends to make it an offense for financial institutions to fail to report transactions that they know or suspect to be linked to terrorist activity, Blunkett said.
Blunkett also signaled a streamlining of Britain's extradition system and urged lawyers not to delay the removal of illegal immigrants, including terrorist suspects, by exploiting appeal procedures.
"What a farcical situation we face that it can take five, seven, 10 years to extradite someone who is known to have been engaged in or perpetrating terrorism," he said.
New laws will mean people suspected or convicted of terrorist involvement cannot be considered for asylum.
Another measure will see law enforcement agencies given full access to information on passengers and freight, which air and sea carriers will be required to retain.
Legislation on all the measures will be presented to parliament in the coming weeks, Blunkett said.
Also, within four months, Britain will end the practice of putting asylum seekers in jail unless they had committed a crime or were suspected of one.
The government also plans to end its controversial system of giving asylum seekers vouchers instead of cash for food and clothing.
Blunkett told the Labor party conference: "We cannot become a fortress Britain.
"We need a radical, improved approach to immigration and asylum - tough on traffickers and clandestine entry, rational on economic migration, and the development of a work permit system that allows people to enter our shores freely to earn their living."
He said the government would introduce a new work permit system of "managed migration" favorable to highly qualified candidates and students from abroad who had graduated in Britain and who wanted to work in the country.
"Let's take away the stigma, let's make sure that we have means and channels of entry that no longer require people to hang under trucks coming through the Channel tunnel," said Blunkett.
The British government has often been accused in the past of being lax on asylum and soft on suspected terrorists who operate from its territory.
Last year, more than 80,000 people claimed asylum in Britain, according to official figures, in a process that can last years.
Abroad, Britain has been accused by the Algeria, Egypt, India and Turkey, of harboring groups considered extremist in their homelands.
Chief executive of the Refugee Council, Nick Hardwick, said he "cautiously welcomed" Blunkett's speech.
"We also welcome the proposals to a managed migration system. We hope this will include allowing asylum seekers the right to work," he said.
|
