Do Terrorists have Human Rights too? A Critical Analysis of the Representation of (Suspected) Terrorists in the "War against Terror" Discourse in the UK and US

Abstract: Terrorism has for centuries been used as a leverage to attain political, social and economic goals. It is no new phenomena, but since the September 11th attacks of 2001 the American And British governments have instigated a new global ?war? against terrorism. The ?war against terror? discourse that the British and American governments seek to uphold provides a smokescreen from behind which the UK and the US have been able to pursue foreign policies that violate human rights, especially those of (suspected) terrorists. By creating a climate of fear of terrorism and portraying terrorists as inhuman, these governments are able to continue an illegitimate ?war? largely unquestioned. The following research paper is an exposé of the detrimental representation of (suspected) terrorists in the ?war against terror? discourse and the lack of regard for their human rights.