MEPs reject criminalising 'public provocation' of terrorism

11.50.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Jul 2008

In an echo of the controversial Westminster parliament debate 2 years ago in which Liberal Democrats and other advocates of free speech opposed making the 'glorification' of terrorism a criminal offence, Euro-MPs on the European Parliament's civil liberties committee have today rejected a proposal to criminalise throughout the EU the 'public provocation' of a terrorist act.

Commenting, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrats European Justice Spokeswoman, said:

"It is wrong to pass legislation that is vague and subjective, thus having a chilling effect on free speech and legitimate discussion of the causes of a conflict. This would both undermine fundamental rights and alienate those who we aim to prevent being recruited into terrorism."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

MEPs have voted for a much more precise wording, whereby only 'public incitement clearly and intentionally advocating the commission' of a terrorist act should be criminalised in EU law.

The Labour government got its way and the 2006 Terrorism Act, enacted after hasty remarks of then Prime Minister Tony Blair in the wake of the July 2005 London bombings, did indeed make encouragement and 'glorification' of terrorism a criminal offence:

1 Encouragement of terrorism

(1) ........a statement that is likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public to whom it is published as a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement to them to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism...........

[including a statement which]

(a) glorifies the commission or preparation (whether in the past, in the future or generally) of such acts or offences; and

(b) is a statement from which those members of the public could reasonably be expected to infer that what is being glorified is being glorified as conduct that should be emulated by them in existing circumstances.