Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 26, 2001
London - The new anti-terrorism
laws, designed to prevent extremist groups from using British soil as a
base to incite violence overseas, have been welcomed by Overseas Indian
Congress, saying it would act as a damper on those raising funds and promoting
the cause of militants, among other places, in Kashmir in the name of 'jihad'
(holy war).
"Several groups have been raising
funds in the name of religion and sending innocent Muslim youths to fight
in Kashmir in the name of 'jihad' and the new laws will deter them from
doing so," Balwant Kapur, president of the OIC said in a statement on Monday.
"For long we have been impressing
upon the British government to do something to curb the anti-terrorism
acts in this country. Several organisations have been collecting money
in the name of religion and sending them through unauthorised channels
to Pakistan and India. I urge upon the British government to enforce the
law strictly," he said.
Britain's Terrorism Act 2000, the
country's first permanent anti-terrorism legislation, aims to prevent support
and fundraising for extremist groups abroad. Previous laws of that type
- first introduced in 1974 to outlaw the Irish Republican army - were temporary
provisions and had to be renewed at regular intervals by the Parliament.
The new law gives the home secretary
Jack Straw, the power to ban groups believed to have links with terrorism
- subject to parliamentary approval - adding to an existing list of banned
Northern Irish guerrilla groups. The definition of terrorism has been widened
to the use or threat of violence for the purpose of advancing a political,
religious or ideological cause. (PTI)
