Anti-terrorism legislation
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Anti-terrorism legislation designs all types of laws passed in the purported aim of fighting terrorism. They usually, if not always, follow specific bombings or assassinations. Anti-terrorism legislation usually includes specific amendments allowing the state to bypass its own legislation when fighting terrorism-related crimes, under the grounds of necessity.
Because of this suspension of regular procedure, such legislation is sometimes criticized as a form of lois scélérates which may unjustly repress all kinds of popular protests. Critics often allege that anti-terrorism legislation endangers democracy by creating a state of exception that allows authoritarian style of government. Governments often state that they are necessary temporary measures that will be dispelled when the danger finally vanish.
However, most anti-terrorist legislation remains in activity even after the initial target of it has been eliminated. Measures which may be included by anti-terrorism legislation include preventive detention (that is, detention without trial), control orders in the UK and Australia, warrantless searches in the United States.
See also
- Anti-Socialist Laws passed in Germany in 1878
- High policing
- National security
- Rule of law
- State of emergency