A number of governments rushed through legislation and other "anti-terrorism" measures in the name of security. These measures include indefinite detention without trial, special courts based on secret evidence, or cultural and religious restrictions -- sometimes creating shadow criminal justice systems. There was a greater reluctance by governments to criticize others' domestic policies.
"Security can not and must not take precedence over human rights. The biggest danger to human rights is when political and economic interests are allowed to drive the human rights agenda," stated Ms Khan.
Whipped up by politicians more concerned with popularity than with respecting international human rights obligations, a racist backlash has generated a climate of suspicion and mistrust, exaggerated by the way in which foreigners are being portrayed as a source of ''terrorism''.
In the wake of the Middle East crisis, racist and anti-Semitic attacks against Arabs and Jews erupted, prompted by intolerance of religious, racial, cultural, and national differences.
"We must not let fear win. We must not allow fundamental freedoms to be eroded or prejudice and intolerance to prevail," declared Ms Khan.
"Security can not and must not take precedence over human rights. The biggest danger to human rights is when political and economic interests are allowed to drive the human rights agenda," stated Ms Khan.
Whipped up by politicians more concerned with popularity than with respecting international human rights obligations, a racist backlash has generated a climate of suspicion and mistrust, exaggerated by the way in which foreigners are being portrayed as a source of ''terrorism''.
In the wake of the Middle East crisis, racist and anti-Semitic attacks against Arabs and Jews erupted, prompted by intolerance of religious, racial, cultural, and national differences.
"We must not let fear win. We must not allow fundamental freedoms to be eroded or prejudice and intolerance to prevail," declared Ms Khan.