Committee evaluates counter-terrorism bill in secrecy

Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Relations Committee has made the decision to evaluate the counter-terrorism bill in secrecy.

The committee had convened to evaluate and consider possible amendments to the bill this Tuesday. Both this Tuesday’s meeting – which began at 1 pm, and the meeting held last Monday when senior officials from Attorney General’s Office, MNDF, National Counter-Terrorism Center, Maldives Police Service and the Home Ministry were summoned for discussions were held behind closed doors.

The counter-terrorism bill was presented to the Parliament on behalf of the Maldivian government at a special sitting by South Henveyru MP Hussain Shaheem (Andhun Hussain) on September 12. The bill was approved for evaluation following a preliminary debate at the second special parliamentary sitting held on Sunday, September 22.

Several lawmakers who took part in the preliminary debate voiced concern over the sweeping powers the bill will grant to law enforcement agencies in dealing with terror suspects.

The bill grants law enforcement agencies the authority to arrest terror suspects without a court warrant, and hold them for up to 48 hours before they need to be presented before a judge for remand. It also grants law enforcement agencies the authority to search the private property of terror suspects without a court warrant, and the authority to strip search terror suspects if there is valid reason to suspect he/she may be hiding evidence on his/her person.

The bill also restricts several other political and social rights granted by the Constitution.

The Parliament, which is currently in recess, continues to hold special sittings to mull over the bill following President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s call to expedite the bill – which he said contained legislative amendments necessary to take immediate measures to combat terrorism.

The opposition, on Monday, voiced concern over such a controversial bill being rushed without proper evaluation.

The counter-terrorism bill accommodates a broader definition of terrorism, and establishes acts of violence to promote a particular political, religious or extremist ideology as terrorism.

ACTS ADDED AS OFFENSES UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATURE:

• Going to war, going to a war zone, being present in a war zone, attempting to engage in combat, being an accessory to an act of combat, or being an accomplice to an act of combat in any form.
• Producing, using or dealing in combat weapons, explosives or anything which contains a destructive component.
• Supporting a terrorist organization or advocating support for a terrorist organization.
• Encouraging an activity in support of a terrorist organization or expressing such a sentiment, or taking part in an activity in support of a terrorist organization, or organizing or managing such an activity.
• Wearing clothing which implies a person is a member of a terrorist organization or supports a terrorist organization in public. Or possession of a writing, drawing or photo which implies a person is a member of a terrorist organization or supports a terrorist organization in plain sight.