Proposed ‘Anti-Terrorism’ Law Legitimizes Human Rights Violations in China

China is drafting its own anti-terrorism legislation to combat terrorists. Yet in the eyes of the international organization Human Rights Watch, it is simply a tactic for legitimizing the human rights violations in the country.
Proposed ‘Anti-Terrorism’ Law Legitimizes Human Rights Violations in China
Sophie Richardson, China Director at Human Rights Watch, speaks on China's treatment of dissidents and their families during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Sept. 24, 2013. Richardson recently published a report saying that the proposed Chinese anti-terrorism law is intended to legitimize human rights abuses. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images).
Frank Fang
Frank Fang
Reporter
|Updated:

The Chinese regime is drafting its own anti-terrorism legislation to combat terrorists. Yet in the eyes the international organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), it is simply a tactic for legitimizing human rights violations in the country.

“China has seen appalling attacks on people, and the government has a duty to respond and protect the population. But in its present form this law is little more than a license to commit human rights abuses,” said Sophie Richardson, the China director of the rights watchdog. “The draft needs to be completely overhauled and brought in line with international legal standards.”

The proposed Chinese legislation, published in November last year, seeks public consultation, calls for the establishment of an anti-terrorism center, and the implementation of a mechanism for sharing intelligence across different departments and with international anti-terrorism organizations.

I believe such anti-terrorism law is intentionally trying to blur the line between anti-terrorism and ethnic disputes or people with different political views.
Zhao Yuanming, Chinese legal expert
Frank Fang
Frank Fang
Reporter
Frank Fang is a Taiwan-based reporter. He covers U.S., China, and Taiwan news. He holds a master's degree in materials science from Tsinghua University in Taiwan.
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