Stop the War Coalition National Annual Conference 2006

RESOLUTION 2 Civil liberties and the Muslim community

Stop The War Coalition Steering Committee

1. This conference opposes the new terror laws, including the clause on 'glorification ofterrorism'. The response to last year's London bombings should be to try to find political solutions to the problems of terrorism, and especially to see the connection between the rise of terrorism and the war on iraq. We believe that there are already adequate laws to deal with bombings and other terrorist attacks, and that these laws represent the scapegoating of one section of the community.
2. We oppose increased stop and search which is aimed disproportionately at young Muslims and can only help to criminalise the community.
3. We stand fully behind the Muslim community which has played such a prominent part in opposing the war and oppose all racist attacks on them.
4. The Serious Crimes and Disorder Act has led to restrictions on the right to protest within a mile of parliament. Microphones and megaphones are no longer allowed on protests and demonstrators must give 24 hours notice and gain police permission to comply with the law.
5. Already a number of people have been arrested under this law. Brian Haw has seen attacks on his camp. Five PSC supporters involved in a protest over the attacks on Jericho jail have been summonsed for failing to obtain 24 hours notice.
6. This law means we could not, for example, demonstrate on the day of an air strike on Iran. We call for the full repeal of this law and the right to protest around parliament. We fully support all those prosecuted under this law.
7. We support the protest at the court hearing of the PSC demonstrators on June 15 th.