Union terrorist rules under fire

Date: 17/01/02

Security measures adopted by the EU after 11 September have undermined the Union's credibility on human rights issues, campaigners say.

Human Rights Watch argues that laws agreed in late 2001 'contained an overbroad definition of terrorist activity that could potentially have the same sweeping effect as laws used to silence dissidents in, for example, Turkey and Uzbekistan'. The group also says the EU pressed for fair trial standards in applicant states even though its own European arrest warrant proposal lacked them.

It accuses Union foreign policy-makers of courting Vladimir Putin while ignoring Russia's abuses in Chechnya.

Human Rights Watch has said that EU security measures adopted after the 11 September terrorist attacks have undermined the organisation's credibility on human rights issues.

http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/eusecurity.htm http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/eusecurity.htm

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