wfn.org | Mission agency voices concerns about detentions, tribunals

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Jan. 9, 2002  News media contact: Linda Bloom7(212) 870-38037New York
10-21-71B{004}

NEW YORK (UMNS) - The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is
expressing concern about the detention of immigrants and the use of military
tribunals as anti-terrorism measures by the U.S. government.

"Immigrants and other marginalized persons and communities have increasingly
become the targets of heightened government suspicion and harassment," the
agency noted in its "Statement on Anti-Terrorism Measures and Human Rights
Issues," posted just before Christmas on the board's Web site at
http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news.

Pointing out that several countries had adopted new policies affecting
immigrants since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the
statement said, "While it is a government's responsibility to insure the
well-being and safety of people, it is also government's responsibility to
respect the fundamental human rights of all people."

Many human rights organizations and even police chiefs in some cities
believe that longtime detention of immigrants without specific charges and
the obvious racial profiling of Middle Eastern men "go beyond what is
necessary for public safety even at times such as this," the statement said.
Freezing the assets of organizations "is also a tool that can be all too
easily abused."

"The Bible calls us to extend love and hospitality even to one's enemies,"
the Board of Global Ministries said. "Providing shelter, clothing,
educational, medical and other forms of humanitarian aid to displaced
persons on all sides in a conflict is an important ministry of restoring
justice in a war-torn region. Families, relatives and neighbors of an
accused terrorist or political prisoner should not be considered guilty by
association nor subjected to collective punishment."

The denomination's mission agency has a long track record in supporting
immigrants and refugees, both on its own and through Church World Service
and other ecumenical groups.
In its Dec. 21 statement, the Board of Global Ministries also expressed
concern that the FBI was relaxing its rules regarding surveillance without
cause of religious organizations, and the agency questioned the use of
secret evidence, lack of due process and judicial review, and possible
imposition of the death penalty if terrorism suspects are tried under a
military tribunal.

President Bush issued a military order on Nov. 13 calling for the use of
military tribunals against non-citizens. The agency called upon United
Methodists to join human rights, civil liberties and immigrant organizations
in calling on the Bush administration to rescind that military order. 

"The recent indictment of Zacarias Moussaoui (suspected of being the 20th
hijacker) in a U.S. federal court, rather than under a military tribunal, is
the appropriate path to bring such charges in keeping with due process and
respect for the rights of all," the statement said.

# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org