Sample letter - lobby against Terrorism Bill

Sample MP Letter (to be adapted and elaborated, not photocopied)

[Your full address and postcode]
[Your email address]
[date]

Dear [name] MP,

URGENT: Request to Oppose Proposed 'Anti-terror' Legislation

As a member of your constituency, I am writing to request that you oppose the government’s proposed 'anti-terror' legislation.

Please tell me your position towards the government's new proposals, while there is still time to influence your view and your vote.

Those proposals would extend the injustice of current powers, all based on the Terrorism Act 2000, which redefined terrorism more broadly to include simply the threat of violence to property in an attempt to influence a government, anywhere in the world. That broad definition encompasses many normal political activities in this country and any resistance to oppressive regimes abroad.

In particular I oppose the following new powers, which would be inherently unjust:
[Note: Letter-writers are encouraged to elaborate the reasons given below.]

• Two new crimes: any statements which amount to the 'direct or indirect encouragement' of terrorist acts or statements which 'glorify' such acts.
  Reasons:The ordinary criminal law already prohibits efforts to incite violent crimes or conspiracy to organize crimes. The new 'terrorist' crimes would be used to intimidate, silence and persecute merely verbal support for resistance against oppressive regimes – or even verbal support for domestic political activities which may fit the broad definition of terrorism. Such statements may include, for example, mere expressions of support for legal defence or 'solidarity' statements for peace protestors accused of damage at military bases.
• Banning groups which 'glorify' terrorist acts.
  Reasons: The Terrorism Act 2000 has already been used in a politically biased way, by banning many groups abroad which resist oppressive regimes, wherever those groups’ activities fit the broad definition of terrorism. The new power would help extend the current bans to UK-based organizations which ‘glorify terrorism’ as broadly defined under the 2000 Act. Overall this would mean further criminalizing political dissent against UK foreign policy, for example, opposition to the Iraq War or to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. Of course, regimes allied to the UK government are never classified as terrorist, much less UK military activities abroad.
• A new crime of disseminating 'terrorist publications'.
  Reasons: Already the Terrorism Act 2000 has been used to prosecute a Turkish-language magazine as ‘terrorist property’, even though it is legally sold in Turkey and simply reports political developments there. This prosecution illustrates how current 'anti-terror' powers are used to promote UK foreign policy objectives, not to protect us from violence. The new crime would further suppress dissent, without needing to demonstrate any link with a banned organization. It is a serious attack on freedom of speech; even if unsuccessful in court, prosecutions could be highly disruptive to political dissent.
• Detention without charge (of terror suspects) would be extended from 14 days to 3 months.
  Reasons: Already the 14-day detention period has been used as a substitute for a proper criminal investigation, instead intimidating and stigmatizing people as 'terror suspects'. An even longer period would amount to internment in all but name, thus violating the principle of habeas corpus. Such long detention would be used to extract real or imaginary ‘information’ to justify detention of yet more 'terror suspects'.

For all those reasons, I ask that you give an undertaking not to vote for renewal or extension of any 'anti-terror' powers. The new powers would extend the already excessive 'anti-terror' laws and their inherent injustice. The ordinary criminal law is adequate to protect us from violence. 'Anti-terror' laws designed and used mainly to protect oppressive regimes abroad and UK foreign policy objectives.

[This could be deleted if not applicable.]
To discuss those issues, please arrange an appointment to meet a delegation of your constituents in your local constituency office. The following times would be convenient for us:

If you would like more information on why to oppose the government’s new proposals, then you can read the briefing document, 'Protect our Rights', along with the petition 'United to Protect our Rights', both available at www.sacc.org.uk

Thank you for your time. I will be contacting you shortly to confirm receipt of my letter. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]