Never talk to terrorists

MOAZZAM BEGG draws lessons from Northern Ireland to conclude that the solution to domestic terrorism lies with engagement not exclusion

Today’s approach to terrorism in the UK as a relatively new phenomenon ignores crucial lessons that should have been learned from Northern Ireland. The prospects for the future are bleak if our government continues to ignore this recent episode in British history that most of the electorate is old enough to remember.

Earlier this year, I was greatly honoured by the people of Derry to help formally open the Free Derry Museum. The museum was established by relatives of the people killed on Bloody Sunday, who have yet to receive justice for what happened to their loved ones. I was asked to address an audience which included the most well-known leaders of the Republican movement. But the forgotten lesson of Bloody Sunday is why over 25,000 protesters had been marching peacefully that fateful day.

It was because of internment. It was because people had had enough of seeing their relatives imprisoned without evidence, without charge and without trial. They were sick and tired of being dehumanised. But the ensuing British Army action was to cause the greatest recruitment drive the IRA had seen in decades and an unprecedented bombing campaign on the UK mainland.

The biggest internal revolt ever faced by the present Labour government was when it attempted to increase detention without charge for terrorism suspects from 28 days to 90 days. Despite this huge defeat, government bills resurrecting the same argument continue to materialise, only with an auction-like reduction in the bid to 56 days instead. But two months or three would be a sentence no sane person would be willing to serve or accept – especially without charge or trial.

The last time people were detained in this country for significant periods in this manner was during internment in Northern Ireland. And that became, unsurprisingly, the catalyst for bringing terrorism to our doorsteps.

Some people have been held in this country – without charge or trial – either awaiting extradition to countries known to practice torture, or, under anti-terror measures for up to seven years. Several of these people, who were granted asylum in the UK, having fled the oppression in their own countries, are included amongst them. Some were held for so long and in such dire conditions that they opted to voluntarily return home and face possible torture and arbitrary imprisonment.

The argument about foreign policy affecting the radicalisation of Muslim youth no longer holds true of itself, even though intelligence services and think tanks advised the government that the invasion of Iraq would increase the likelihood of terrorism in the UK. But now internal policies, created in the light of reactions to the invasion, along with new attitudes, are exacerbating hostility both towards the Muslim community and eliciting it from them. So long as the government continues on this path I am convinced this worrying trend will continue.

In addition to new legislation in this country, which includes increased police powers of stop and search, stop and question, an accepted shoot-to-kill policy and increased surveillance, media onslaughts, the rise of the extreme right, insensitive statements by government ministers and open season on all things Muslim has forced many to find strength in their own communities, neighbourhoods and faith.

More and more people will turn into their communities if these trends are allowed to carry on. After Jack Straw’s negative comments on the niqab (face veil) sales of this item went up ten-fold, conveying a metaphorical, but clear middle finger to the Commons leader and his opinion. There is no doubt that if a government minister were to make similar comments in future, communities around the country will respond in a similar manner.

At the Derry meeting I spoke of how Muslims in the UK were openly targeted, vilified and demonised as “terrorists”, and how I felt dejected by this. A Sinn Fein leader took my hand and said, “don’t feel dejected. Some of us know what it’s like to be a criminalised community. Be strong, persevere and it will pass.”

A few weeks later, this one-time commander of the redoubtable IRA Provos was shaking hands with Prime Minister Blair as he took his historical place as first minister for Northern Ireland. Despite Blair's ironic assertion that “We [the British government] will never talk to terrorists, I believe all-inclusive dialogue, a lesson learnt the hard way in Northern Ireland, is the only way to achieve the peace people claim to be working for.

Put another way, the approach to terrorism in the UK in future must look to the recent past if it is to be effective. Otherwise, the impact of the government's foreign and domestic policy can only be disastrous in the years to come.

Moazzam Begg is one of nine British Muslims who were held in the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp in Cuba by the United States government. Having been seized in Afghanistan in February 2002, he was released on January 25th 2005. President Bush released Moazzam Begg over the objections of the CIA and the Pentagon who warned that Mr Begg could still be a dangerous terrorist.