Human Rights Watch Briefing On The Terrorism Bill 2005

This briefing concerns problematic new measures on speech and detention contained in the draft terrorism legislation—the fifth major piece of counter-terrorism legislation in as many years—currently being debated in the British parliament. It concentrates on two key matters: a potentially sweeping new offence of “encouragement of terrorism,” and an increased detention period to twenty-eight days in terrorism cases for those who have yet to be charged with a crime, seven times longer than that allowed for any other crime.