"Terrorism is irredeemably evil" - Allister
14 February 2007
In debate in the European Parliament on international terrorism, DUP MEP Jim Allister hit out at those more concerned by the so called rights of terrorists than preserving the society and values which they seek to destroy. In a hard-hitting denunciation of terrorism, with a side swipe at Sinn Fein, the Ulster Euro MP said there had to be a winner between good and evil, between terror and order.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
"Terrorism is irredeemably evil. Its wicked persona is not to be excused or ameliorated. Sadly, the GUE/NGL minority report tries to do exactly that with its focus on economic and social causes of terrorism, its attack on "the war on terror" and its diversionary reference to what it calls "state terrorism". I'm not surprised, because embedded in GUE is Sinn Fein, the long-term friend and political affiliate of terrorists.
We have heard much talk of human rights, as if fighting terrorism and a belief in human rights were incompatible. Remember, terrorists are those who set out to destroy all tenets of liberal democracy, who refuse to live by our civilised laws, but who are adept at exploiting them when it suits their nefarious purposes. Coming from Northern Ireland I've seen that at first hand. Sometimes if society is to survive it must fight back. Some, I fear, would so cloak themselves in an exaggerated human rights mantra that they'd see society perish sooner than terror.
This is a world of harsh choices. Rabid Islamic terrorism is a particular threat to every liberty the western world stands for. It plays not by the rules, but embraces a perverted death culture that rejoices in mass murder. With such people we cannot be soft. If we are, then they will win. Yes, there must be a winner between good and evil, between terror and order. It is the duty of us all to see that good triumphs and terror is vanquished."
