Superseding rights

It was frustrating, if not downright revolting, to know that the suicide bomber who killed 22 innocent young people and injured more than 60 others last week in a concert hall in Manchester, England, was “known to the authorities”.

In other words he, like all previous terrorists who committed similar acts of terrorism in France and other countries in Europe, was on the police radar, yet, no action was taken by the “authorities” to pre-empt his savage attack.

Why are the police so timid and always behind the curve when it comes to combating crimes and terrorism?

Most Western countries have a skewed sense of individual human rights and always play it safe by putting these rights ahead of the collective rights of society to safety and security.

Why is this so?

Since when do the rights of an individual come ahead of the rights of the people to security and safety?

This alarming situation has become a recurring feature of many Western nations that conduct themselves strictly by the human rights rules even when many lives are at risk.

The problem, therefore, is with the laws in the West.

They need to be revisited and made fairer.

Since the culprit in the case of the terrorist act in Manchester was indeed on the police radar, why was he not detained for questioning at least, and kept in temporary detention till all inquiries about him were cleared?

Human rights are not meant to aid and abet terrorists and criminals.

If necessary, countries may derogate from their human rights obligations when there are threats to national security.

Derogation from human rights is allowed under international human rights norms, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, when the life and security of people are at risk.

Yet, Western countries continue to put the cart before the horse by putting the rights of potential terrorists and criminals ahead of the right to life of communities at large.

This absurdity must come to an end if the fight against terrorists and criminals is to be won.