UK Claim That 'Journalism Equals Terrorism' Sparks Outrage

Edited by Juan Leandro
2013-11-04 16:57:37

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London, November 4 (RHC)-- Outrage and denunciations are following reports out of the UK which show that the British government has labeled the husband of journalist Glenn Greenwald a "terrorist" for allegedly possessing leaked NSA documents while passing through London's Heathrow Airport earlier this year.

In August, David Miranda was detained by security while on a layover between Germany and the home he shares with Greenwald in Brazil.  Detained for nearly nine hours under the claimed authority of a anti-terrorism statute in the country called Schedule 7, the incident made international headlines within the larger dramatic arch surrounding the story of NSA spying and global surveillance generated by documents leaked by Edward Snowden.

Subsequent to his release and safe return to Brazil, Miranda filed suit against the British government for his treatment.  At a London court hearing for Miranda's lawsuit, a document called a "Ports Circulation Sheet" was read into the record.  It was prepared by Scotland Yard - in consultation with the MI-5 counterintelligence agency and circulated to British border posts before Miranda's arrival. 

The document says: "Intelligence indicates that Miranda is likely to be involved in espionage activity which has the potential to act against the interests of UK national security."  The Scotland Yard notice said: "The disclosure, or threat of disclosurem (of certain documents), is designed to influence a government and is made for the purpose of promoting a political or ideological cause.  This therefore falls within the definition of terrorism..."

The use of the words "espionage" and "terrorism" to describe what Miranda was doing immediately generating outrage among journalists and open government advocates across the world.  Glenn Greewald told Reuters in reponse to the news about Miranda: "For all the lecturing it doles out to the world about press freedoms, the UK offers virtually none," adding that the UK is "absolutely and explicitly equating terrorism with journalism."


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