ABSTRACT

The uninformed reader, who is primarily and legitimately worried about his or her security, will undoubtedly be insufficiently reassured by this brief glimpse of jurisprudence. The European Commission and Court of Human Rights have not been attributed the task of punishing, let alone preventing, terrorism. The principal countries which support international terrorism1

are not High Contracting Parties to the 4 November 1950 Convention, and therefore cannot be condemned by its authorities. The procedure which it sets out is very open as to the individual applicant,2 but limited as to the State which can be held liable.3 Libya cannot be brought before this jurisdiction.4 It is the Security Council of the UN which demanded that Iraq cease supporting terrorist activities.5 The European Court of Human Rights is not a criminal court, let alone a State security court. Its competence is limited by the principle of subsidiarity.