Fourteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

The United Kingdom Government has on numerous occasions since the troubles in Northern Ireland since 1960s to the terrorist events of September 11 (2001) and 7/7 (2005), and external threats to the UK from religious entities introduced new legislation which provides increased powers to the intelligence and security services to protect its citizens. However, at times these powers have done little to protect the citizens but handed considerable powers to security organisations which continue to rely upon them with a view to restricting and limiting the rights of the citizens. This study examines how the United Kingdom Government used terrorism as a political tool to pass security legislation which led to curbing liberties. This study examines how there is a historical connection between terrorist attacks and new security legislations being enacted which has resulted in infringing of human rights and civil liberties by the security services.