Terrorism - Summary of Applicable US and International Law (From Political Terrorism and Business - The Threat and Response, P 161-174, 1979, Yonah Alexander and Robert A Kilmarx, ed. - See NCJ-77538)

• NCJ Number: 77549
• Author(s): L G Fields
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Praeger Publishers
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The development of American law and codified international law to meet terrorist threats is surveyed.

Abstract

Although the U.S. Criminal Code includes traditional crimes used by terrorists to influence government policy or action, Congress has recently focused on particular manifestations of terrorism. Public Law 92-539, enacted in 1972, amended the Criminal Code by adding crimes directed against foreign officials and official guests of the United States. The Antihijacking Act of 1974 was enacted to implement the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft adopted at the Hague in 1970. This law amended the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to redefine the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States and to modify the offense of aircraft piracy to conform to the Hague Convention requirements. The International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 contains a prohibition of assistance to countries granting sanctuary to international terrorists. In the area of codified international law and initiatives, three conventions address offenses against civil aviation. The Convention on Offenses and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft of 1963 (Tokyo Convention) applies to offenses against penal laws and to acts which jeopardize the safety of the aircraft or passengers or which threaten the order on board. The 1970 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (Hague Convention) obliges contracting states to make the offense of unlawful seizure of aircraft punishable by severe penalties. The 1971 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation (Montreal Convention) covers a range of offenses punishable by severe penalties. Other international responses are United Nations Resolution 3166 on the prevention and punishment of crimes against internationally protected persons, the Universal Postal Convention which requires state parties to adopt measures against letter bombing, and the 1976 European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. Two notes are listed.