Civil liberties, Muslim leaders slam anti-terrorism laws

Australians could use some international help on this breaking story. Our own ACLU has a shitty Angelfire website, for chrissake, that's how weak the civil liberties movement is in this semi-comatose country. And the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties website, at time of writing, doesn't even have an item on this.

Meanwhile, civilrights.org is only interested in USA issues. Australia's National Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman, if this report is to be believed, is weak as water on the issue. This is a world issue, people. Help!

Australia: "Muslim leaders and civil liberties groups have attacked the Federal Government's counter-terrorism package.

"Under the new plan, federal police will have extra powers to search and question suspected terrorists.

"Suspected terrorists could be held up to 14 days without being charged and inciting terrorist attacks would be an offence.

"The proposal would also force migrants to wait an extra year before they could gain Australian citizenship.

"Anjad Mehboob, chief executive of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, believes it is a step backwards for Australia and the Muslim community.

"'We feel that this is going to drive people who might be contemplating acts of violence and terrorism underground,' he said.

"Mr Mehboob thinks some Muslims already believe they are treated unfairly and says the result will be more police checks on Muslim people.

"'When we know already that it's the young Muslim youth who are the subject of a lot of this attention and targeting and undoubtedly where random checks are being made that they would be the ones to cop it,' he said.

"Cameron Murphy of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties is also worried.

"'My overall view of this package is that it is exactly the sort of package that is going to lead to a police state,' he said."
ABC News

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