Leading cultural figures attack folly of 42-day detention limit

The spy writer John Le Carré, the actors Colin Firth and Patrick Stewart, the novelist Iain Banks, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and professor of philosophy A C Grayling are among a group of leading figures from the arts and academia who have written to Gordon Brown to oppose the extension of pre-charge detention to 42 days for terrorist suspects.

On the eve of a key vote on the second reading of the Counter-Terrorism Bill in the Commons, their open letter warns the Prime Minister that "community relations could suffer if the Muslim community appears to be ... targeted for prolonged pre-charge detention".

The result might "damage intelligence gathering and policing and ...efforts to engage with Muslims in the UK". They accused the Government of failing to produce a convincing case for undermining habeas corpus

Leading cultural figures attack folly of 42-day detention limit - The Independent