In light of recent events, my concern has grown over the current counter-terrorism laws in the UK and their potential overreach when applied to individuals who are involved in peaceful protests or express political opinions. It is vital for any democratic society to find a balance between ensuring national security and protecting its citizens' basic rights.

The UK Government needs to reassess its counter-terrorism laws to ensure they both protect the public from real violent threats while also respecting human rights as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Our security agencies, including MI5, GCHQ, and the Counter Terrorism Policing unit, must have the necessary powers to effectively combat terrorism and other serious threats. Yet, these powers must be constrained within limits that ensure they are proportionate, transparent, and under stringent stronger oversight.

The misuse of counter-terrorism laws for suppressing dissent stifles the essential freedoms that form the backbone of our democracy namely, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Recent reports have highlighted cases where the broad application of these laws may infringe upon the rights of individuals lawfully protesting or voicing political beliefs, posing a threat not only to individuals but to the fundamental principles of our democracy.

Recent concerns raised by human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and United Nations experts, have highlighted the potential impact of counter-terrorism powers on individuals involved in Palestine solidarity activism and other forms of political protest in the UK. These concerns underline the importance of ensuring that counter-terrorism laws are applied only where genuinely necessary to address violent threats and are not used in ways that could discourage lawful protest, freedom of expression or democratic participation.

In addition, recent prosecutions and sentencing of some activists have prompted wider public debate about the balance between public order, national security and the right to peaceful protest. Regardless of individual cases, these developments demonstrate the need for a thorough and independent review of the legal framework to ensure that fundamental democratic rights are protected while maintaining public safety.

Any review of these laws should carefully consider their impact on civil liberties and ensure that the UK's counter-terrorism framework remains compatible with its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and international human rights standards.

Our call to action is clear: the UK Government should establish an independent review of current counter-terrorism laws and introduce legislation requiring that any significant new counter-terrorism measure, expansion of counter-terrorism powers, or decision to proscribe an organisation be subject to a published human rights assessment.

This assessment should evaluate compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Kingdom's international human rights obligations, and the laws governing the activities of the security and intelligence agencies. The Government should also be legally required to obtain an independent human rights assessment and seek approval from relevant United Nations human rights experts before such measures are adopted. This would help ensure that decisions are consistent with international human rights standards, are subject to independent scrutiny, and do not unnecessarily interfere with lawful political expression, peaceful protest or democratic participation.

In addition, any proposal to proscribe an organisation under counter-terrorism legislation should be accompanied by an independent assessment of its human rights implications. The Government should be required to publish its reasoning, explain how it has considered relevant recommendations from United Nations human rights experts, and make this information available for parliamentary scrutiny and public accountability.

The focus of this review should be to evaluate the balance between security and civil liberties, ensuring that all laws and practices are consistent with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), international human rights standards and the UK's democratic values. No individual should be unfairly targeted, investigated or punished for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and political participation.