![]() | Counter-terrorism and the Detention of Suspected Terrorists: Preventive Detention and International Human Rights Law Subjects: Law; Politics & International Relations; Human Rights Law & Civil Liberties; International Politics; Political Philosophy; Human Rights; In a regional, national and global response to terrorism, the emphasis necessarily lies on preventing the next terrorist act. Yet, with prevention comes prediction: the need to identify and detain those considered likely to engage in a terrorist act in the future. The detention of 'suspected terrorists' is intended, therefore, to thwart a potential terrorist act recognising that retrospective action is of no consequence given the severity of terrorist crime. Although preventative steps against those reasonably suspected to have an intention to commit a terrorist act is sound counter-terrorism policy, a law allowing arbitrary arrest and detention is not. A State must carefully enact anti-terrorism laws to ensure that preventative detention does not wrongly accuse and grossly slander an innocent person, nor allow a terrorist to evade detection. Dr Claire Macken is the Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning) in the School of Law at Deakin University, Australia. |
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