Liberal Democrats challenge Clarke in EU Terrorism debate

11.04.50am GMT Thu 8th Sep 2005

The Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, today sought EU support for new anti-terrorism laws. He hopes to persuade the European parliament to re-examine the way in which the European Convention on Human Rights has been interpreted, saying the interpretation needed to change in order to take into account the al-Qa'eda threat. During the debate the Home Secretary attacked Lib Dem MEP Sajjad Karim, calling him "particularly ignorant and ill-informed". Mr Karim hit back, saying, "Is it uninformed to say that undue restrictions on the liberty of our citizens may assist the very extremists we seek to destroy? Is it ignorant to say that to combat the terrorist threat we need the help of Muslim communities?"

Graham Watson MEP, leader of the European Liberal Democrat group said "Although a natural human reaction to acts of terror is to de-humanise the perpetrators and exact summary justice, this 'high-noon' approach to a serious and complex threat is inadequate and short-sighted as it risks further alienating large sections of our communities and placing the entire population under national surveillance as a result of the actions of a handful of fanatics. There is undeniably a strong case for increased European cooperation in the fight against terrorism but governments should first ensure that the existing 24 counter-terrorism measures are effectively implemented in all Member States. Eurojust and Europol capabilities could be more fully exploited and Europol should be brought within parliamentary oversight."