Human rights experts condemn terrorist profiling

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Apr 2003

An EU network of experts in fundamental rights has put into serious question the development by EU governments of "terrorist profiles" with its first annual report.

The network of independent human rights academics, set up at the behest of the European Parliament, said that profiling by police or immigration authorities of potential terrorists on the basis of characteristics such as 'psycho-sociological features', nationality or birthplace "presents a major risk of discrimination".

It said that for profiling to be acceptable, a statistical link would have to be shown between the defined characteristics and the risk of terrorism. But last November a Council recommendation advised all member states to develop the practice despite the fact that no such exercise had been undertaken. Leading citizen's rights campaigners at the time warned against an initiative which could lead to innocent people who just happen to fit the profile being targeted by EU governments.

EP Liberal group justice spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP said:

"This is an authoritative judgement by a distinguished group of civil liberties experts. Member states should pay heed to its warning of discriminatory potential - that in seeking security, they are going too far to endanger liberty and equality."

"If we allow our response to the terrorist threat to create a climate of prejudice or harassment towards ethnic or religious minorities in general, we will have lost a mainstay of our democratic freedoms, which is non-discrimination."