| PETITION Theresa May to review the use of Schedule 7 of Terrorism Act!

.@ukhomeoffice: Theresa May, review the use of Schedule 7 of Terrorism Act ~

• Petition by Adeel Akhtar, London.

  On Sunday David Miranda, the Brazilian partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald who has written stories about revealing mass surveillance programmes by the US Government, was held at Heathrow Airport under the UK Terrorism Act. He was released without charge after nine hours.

  Being detained by authorities can be terrifying for an innocent person. Unfortunately I know how David feels. Ten years ago, I was returning to New York from London where I was studying when I was detained for several hours on ‘suspicion of terrorism’ – their reason? I looked ‘familiar’. It was a traumatic experience which left me feeling powerless and let down, fearful that when travelling I’ll be singled out and have to go through the same thing again.

  Glenn Greenwald told the BBC: “They never asked him about a single question at all about terrorism or anything relating to a terrorist organisation. They spent the entire day asking about the reporting I was doing and other Guardian journalists were doing on the NSA stories.”

  Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows the police to detain anyone at the UK’s borders without any requirement to show probable cause and hold them for up to nine hours, without seeking further justification.

  Schedule 7 has a become a blunt legal instrument that the UK government can use to intimidate people who it doesn’t agree with. I think it’s time for the Government to review how it uses Schedule 7. Please join me.

  _________________________________________________________

  To:
  Theresa May, Home Office

  Review the use of Schedule 7 of Terrorism Act

  Sincerely,
  [Your name]

  _________________________________________________________

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  1. Reached 25,000 signatures

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  • Nick Rider LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

    • about 8 hours ago
    •   Liked 40

    This detention is monstrous and shows the lie behind the government’s favourite claim ‘if you haven’t done anything wrong you have nothing to fear’. It’s an abuse of power worthy of a dictatorship, but because it’s in the UK we’re all supposed to shut up and put up with it.

  • Tom Mullett LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

    • about 7 hours ago
    •   Liked 33

    Detaining David Miranda in this way has nothing to do with terrorism. Government officials were merely trying to intimidate a person whose partner has done amazing things in exposing the deceitful behaviour of our government as it works alongside the worlds biggest terrorist, the USA.

  • Paul Pearson EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM

    • about 7 hours ago
    •   Liked 24

    This detention has nothing to do with protecting us from terror, but more to do with terrorizing those who would oppose or question those who abuse their power.

  • Asif Abbas KINGSTON UPON THAMES, UNITED KINGDOM

    • about 7 hours ago
    •   Liked 23

    This is a disgusting violation of democracy giving unfounded and unjustified powers to the state to stop and hold people they don’t like. I don’t trust the state or any authority enough with this power. The threat of terrorism is played over and over to us even though more people in the US/UK have been harmed by fireworks than terrorism since 2000. This power absolutely needs to be reviewed before it compromises our freedom and democracy.

  • amanda moss LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

    • about 7 hours ago
    •   Liked 19

    THIS IS AN ABUSE OF POWER!

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Related articles

• | UK: Detention of David Miranda – is this a disturbing use of State power? (truthaholics.wordpress.com)
• How Britain Used An Intrusive Anti-Terror Law To Detain Glenn Greenwald’s Partner (thinkprogress.org)
• Pissing off the Government Via Investigative Journalism Can Be Bad for Your Loved Ones: Glenn Greenwald’s Partner Detained, Possessions Stolen Under UK Terrorism Act (reason.com)
• Protest the detention of David Miranda! (shirazsocialist.wordpress.com)
• Greenwald: Brazil’s Intervention Likely Kept Partner from Being Charged Under UK Terrorism Law (dissenter.firedoglake.com)
• UK Detains Glenn Greenwald’s Partner for 9 Hours Under Terrorism Law (theatlanticwire.com)
• David Miranda: ‘They said I would be put in jail if I didn’t cooperate’ (theguardian.com)
• Defining terrorism down (digbysblog.blogspot.com)
• Miranda detention: all-round outrage, criticism (thehindu.com)