EU top court advised to drop LTTE from terror list

22 September 2016 04:43 pm - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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An adviser to the European Union’s top court said Thursday Hamas and the Tamil Tigers should be taken off the EU’s terror list, because the bloc’s governments failed to present sufficient evidence that the groups participated in terrorist attacks.

The opinion of the European Court of Justice’s advocate general isn’t binding on the court’s judges. However, if confirmed, it would settle a yearslong court battle between the Palestinian and Sri Lankan groups and EU governments.

In 2014, the EU’s second-highest court ordered Hamas and the Tamil Tigers to be struck off the bloc’s terror list in two separate decisions. It said at the time that Hamas’s listing wasn’t based on evidence that had been properly examined and confirmed by national authorities, but on “factual imputations derived from the press and the internet.”

The European Council, which represents EU governments in the bloc’s lawmaking process, had appealed that decision, arguing that it was relying on a 2001 decision by the U.K. that designated both Hamas and the Tamil Tigers as terrorist groups as well as the terror listing for both groups in the U.S.

Thursday’s opinion rejects that argument, following similar reasoning as the 2014 decision. “The council cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet,” Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston said.

Ms. Sharpston also said that the council needed to present to the court information on attacks perpetrated by the groups, and cannot rely on terror listings by countries outside the bloc, such as the U.S., without ensuring that they had sufficient protection of fundamental rights.

A final judgment from the Luxembourg-based ECJ will likely take several months to arrive. (The Wall Street Journal)

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Comments - 15

mm Thursday, 22 September 2016 05:52 PM

right. no words. via DM iOS App

Lal Thursday, 22 September 2016 06:52 PM

Ok LTTE may be destroyed but Hamas is still active and both use child soldiers and suicide bombers

Miracle Island Thursday, 22 September 2016 06:52 PM

Oh wow.......! No words to describe how disgusting this decision is.

shamon Thursday, 22 September 2016 07:41 PM

Hamas....shouldnt have been designated as terrorist. organization.....they are fighting against occupation of their land. via DM Android App

suhada Thursday, 22 September 2016 07:43 PM

Balala mallen eliyata ai...let be like a dump found f.......

Lol Thursday, 22 September 2016 08:47 PM

Kingdom of Israel existed before Arabs came to Palestine

kk Thursday, 22 September 2016 09:49 PM

joke of the year via DM Android App

Laxity Thursday, 22 September 2016 09:52 PM

No wonder UK got out of the Union. The EU terrorists get together to get the country into violence again. Britain has no confidence in EU Courts any way but the diaspora has worked well with UK. Boot licking really works!

Bala Thursday, 22 September 2016 10:13 PM

The EU is suffering for these shortsighted decisions. They invite more trouble on themselves but this action.

sara Thursday, 22 September 2016 10:28 PM

awaiting for Wimal's comments.

Thanos Thursday, 22 September 2016 10:40 PM

EU and UK never had a proper ban. It was just a paper ban. So, this recent development is cosmetic. US in-contrast had a strong ban since 1997.

deen Friday, 23 September 2016 10:31 AM

wise decision. Why include a non existing ghost in any list.Neither it exist nor it will surface.

Daily Borru Friday, 23 September 2016 11:13 AM

So what's the problem? MARA finished them 5 years ago, isn't it?

Sheri Friday, 23 September 2016 03:34 PM

They may be finished by the ghost - diaspora is trying its best to stir things.

Namal Perera Friday, 23 September 2016 07:03 PM

Sri Lanka ERASED them completely. Any Country that wish to have them are very welcome to have a taste of it, but never again in our Country.

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EU top court advised to drop LTTE from terror list

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