Anger as ban on glorifying terror comes into force

Blair continues his assault on our human rights by introducing a new law today banning the "glorifying" of terrorism. A term so vague that no-one is quite sure what it means.

For instance, the Prime Ministers wife, Cherie Booth, once said whilst talking of the Palestinian situation, "As long as young people feel they have got no hope but to blow themselves up you are never going to make progress."

This was widely condemned by various groups as condoning the actions of suicide bombers. Does this constitute "glorifying" terrorism? I really have no idea.

It's a terrible law because no-one quite understands it's requirements.

The Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn described the glorification ban as "absurd". He said: "The legislation is misguided and the whole concept of glorification is frankly absurd, and will end up entrapping the innocent and preventing legitimate debate." He argued that one person's terrorist was another's freedom fighter: "Nelson Mandela was branded a terrorist by Margaret Thatcher," he added.

This is my point entirely. It should be remembered that Dick Cheney, the US Vice President, once voted to keep Nelson Mandela in jail as he regarded him as a "terrorist". A view Cheney to this day still defends.

One of the most essential ideals in a democracy is that all ideas should circulate freely, not just the ones that I, or you, happen to agree with.

I loath and detest the politics of the BNP, but I will fight for their right to their hateful marches and their racist sloganeering.

There are many views which I regard as indefencable, but there should never be a time when we say certain views are unlawful. You cannot be jailed for your opinion. And yet, that is the slippery slope down which Blair is now taking us.

This is a TERRIBLE law.

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Tags: Blair, anti-terror, legislation, glorifying, terrorism, human, rights, Cheney, Mandela,