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Originally Posted by Pierre
I think everyones over reacting here.
Where does she say that. Has anyone taken the time to read what she is quoted on??????
She says
Nowhere does she even mention "stop and search" it is the BBC hyping something up and its lazy journalism, making a story out of nothing. She says "counter terrorism powers" which covers a very wide spectrum. Phone taps, surveilance etc
She is saying the threat is from Muslim extremists therefore their resource will be disproportioninately focused on Muslims - as opposed to Roman Catholics
When the threat of terrorism comes from Extremist Muslims its no use putting phone taps on Bhuddists.
No everybody calm down.
Two words "Lip - Service"
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From the same BBC article:
"Statistics showed that of the 17 people found guilty of terrorist acts in the UK since the 11 September attacks, only four of the 12 whose ethnic backgrounds were known were Muslim, he added
Figures published last week showed that people from ethnic minorities were increasingly likely to be targeted by police stop and search tactics.
Figures showed that, for 2003/2004, Asians were 1.9 times more likely to be stopped and searched, compared with 1.7 times more likely in the previous year.
Separate figures on police searches in England and Wales carried out under the Terrorism Act 2000 showed that ethnic minorities were more likely to be targeted.
Muslim groups have repeatedly claimed that their communities are being victimised under terror laws.
In 2003/2004, 12.5% searches under the laws were on Asian people, even though they make up 4.7% of the population.
Last July, the police were accused of Islamophobia by Muslim groups after stop and search figures showed the numbers of Asians targeted had risen by 300% since the introduction of anti-terror laws. "
EDIT: Are those lazy BBC journalists freelancing all over the shop? From a BBC round up of today's papers:
"The Times and Telegraph focus on civil liberties, picking up the words of Home Office Minister Hazel Blears that
more Muslims in Britain can expect to be stopped and searched under Britain's anti-terror laws.
The Guardian quotes a representative of the Islamic Human Rights Commission as saying Ms Blears is "demonising and alienating our community".
EDIT: And from The Times:
"Ms Blearsââ‚Ã⠀šÃ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s comments appear to conflict with the commitment by the police not to target suspects because of their race, a key recommendation of the 1999 inquiry by Sir William Macpherson into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a black teenager.
She said yesterday that Britainââ‚à ‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s 1.5 million Muslims should accept as a reality that
people of Islamic appearance are more likely to be stopped and searched."
EDIT: Evening Standard:
"Home Office Minister Hazel Blears was at the centre of a race row today after claiming that Muslims in Britain should accept
they are more likely than others to be stopped and searched by police.
Giving evidence to Westminster's home affairs committee, she said it was a "reality" that anti-terrorism work would be targeted at people of Islamic appearance.