British government mulls amending human rights law

The British government is considering an amendment to Britain's 1998 Human Rights Act in efforts to prevent current legislation from endangering public safety, British newspapers reported on Sunday.

Charlie Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, told the BBC Saturday that the British government was planning an overhaul of the 1998 Human Rights Act to ensure public safety comes first.

The 1998 Human Rights Act, which makes rights from the European Convention enforceable in British courts, has been under fierce criticism in recent days following a court decision on the right of nine Afghan hijackers to stay in Britain.

The Afghans hijacked a flight in February 2000 after if took off from Afghanistan's capital Kabul, and ordered the pilot to fly to Britain. They claimed that they could not be sent home because their lives would be at risk under the rule of the Taliban.

An immigration court ruling allowed the nine Afghans to remain indefinitely in Britain, but successsive home secretaries have resisted implementing it.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair called the court ruling as "barmy" while several British Sunday newspapers said the prime minister was determined to alter the human rights legislation.

Source: Xinhua