Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-09-07-Speech-3-041"
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"en.20050907.2.3-041"2
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"Mr President, the consequence of adopting a shoot-to-kill policy in response to the terrorist attacks in London is that the UK is now directly responsible for the killing of an innocent man based solely upon his appearance. He is, of course, a victim, but there is another casualty and that is the state of human rights and civil liberties within the EU.
Certain EU governments are targeting individuals through stop-and-search procedures based entirely upon racial profiling. However, if the security services openly state that they are targeting young, ethnic-minority men, the rest of society may also begin to view those who fit this profile with suspicion. Intercommunity relations will be devastated.
Our response to the terrorist threat must be intelligence led and, therefore, requires the contribution of the very communities that these policies are pushing to the fringes of society. Only through a healthy, constructive dialogue can we root out and tackle anger and hatred. The protection of the human rights of EU citizens who just happen to fit a particular description should not be mutually exclusive from the tracking of the perpetrators and prevention of these terrorist attacks.
Public security is of paramount concern, but the Presidency must acknowledge that undue restrictions on the liberty of our citizens simply fulfil the ultimate goal of these extremists. If we do not avoid extremist responses, we may feed the very beast we seek to destroy.
Today, Europe has an opportunity to respond to extremist forces within our borders in an intelligent, strong, liberal manner, considering our citizens as equal, unless and until any one of them actually takes actions which threaten the security of our society. Then our response must be united, relentless and firm, but always proportionate and based upon the rule of law. Let us not allow our reactions to deliver that which the terrorists' actions can never achieve.
I hear much talk of the targeting of mosques. I am a European Muslim. I received my religious teaching in that very same mosque system. It taught me to be a good, contributing citizen who is proud to be European and British. Please do not confine millions like me to a second-class citizenship simply because of our appearance and by ignoring our contribution.
In conclusion, I repeat, President-in-Office, let us not allow our reactions to deliver to the terrorists that which their actions can never seek to achieve."@en1
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