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July 18, 2006
Tuesday
 
 
Silencing our security
Philip Chaston (London)  Self defence & security

The government is now proscribing two successor organisations of Al-Mujahiroun. These are Al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect, two cloaks for the continued radicalisation and recruitment of Muslims on British soil. However, they are not being banned because they pose a threat to our security, but for the glorification of terror.

Al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect are the first two organisations to be banned under new laws outlawing the glorification of terrorism.

John Reid, the Home Secretary, laid an order in Parliament making it a criminal offence for a person to belong to or encourage support for either group.

It will also be illegal to arrange meetings in their support or to wear clothes or carry articles in public indicating support for either group.

One can oppose this ban on utilitarian grounds: the individuals who organise these groups will merely band together and continue their activities under a different guise. If the symbols or pickets are written in Urdu or Arabic, what policeman or member of the public could ever understand the acts that they were glorifying. Such a placard may as well state "Ronaldo forever". The practicality of this ban is in grave doubt. At best, there is a slender chance that it may hinder the recruitment of those we should fear most: white Muslims who can walk unhindered and cause the greatest headache for the security services

But utilitarian arguments trade on the ground that the prohibitionists choose to stand upon. No matter how much we may oppose the precepts of these two groups, proscription is wrong. Liberty includes allowing the supporters of terrorist acts to stand up and air their views for all to witness. If they are not linked to acts of violence, and do not step beyond the boundaries of our traditional laws on incitement, who are we to gag and silence those we do not wish to hear. Security is not bought by stopping your ears or allowing the state to stop them for you. You cannot rely upon your own vigilance in identifying those who pose a threat to you, once the state has silenced them and you.

Comments

I'm almost disappointed that they failed to fulfil the PM's promise and proscribe Hizb ut Tahrir. Having met some of its representatives at a "human rights" event and exchanged business cards, I was almost looking forward to being classified as an associate of terrorists by the esteemed forces of security.


Posted by guy herbert at July 18, 2006 08:21 AM

Of course we all know that the Prime Minister's wife directly benefits from Hizb ut Tahrir - Cherie prosecuted, and won against, Denbigh High School for Shabina Begum's right to wear jilbab and guess who paid for Ms Booth's refreshers and advance? None other than Hizb ut Tahrir.


Posted by Julian Taylor at July 18, 2006 04:11 PM

"What policeman or member of the public could ever understand Urdu or Arabic?"

Duh. Did you know that they now let non-whites join the police? Shocking, innit?

Duh. Did you know some members of the public are now allowed to be Moslems?

Duh. Did you know women are now allowed to join the police?


Posted by karl.rove at July 19, 2006 10:39 AM

Cleary Chaston's point is that we, the monolingual majority, need to know who our enemies are, not just have the state decide that for us. Idiot.


Posted by Albion at July 19, 2006 11:37 AM
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