Will Grigg's Liberty Minute

November 5, 2007

Pakistani ruler Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3, suspending that country's Constitution.

General Musharraf claimed that this drastic action was necessary in order to protect the country from the threat of terrorism and the effects of a severe economic downturn.

Under the state of emergency, Musharraf's government has announced suspension of individual rights, including the following:

*Protection of life and liberty.
*The right to free movement.
*The right of detainees to have access to lawyers.
*Freedom of assembly.
*Freedom of speech.
*Freedom of the press ? reporters face summary imprisonment for criticizing the government or military.

What is remarkable, and troubling, is that measures such as the so-called USA Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act would permit our government to commit exactly the same abuses being inflicted on Pakistan by the dictator Musharraf. We don't find it difficult to denounce such policies as tyrannical ? when they're inflicted on others abroad.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.