Tunisia overwhelmingly passes anti-terror law

Tunisia’s parliament has approved a new anti-terrorism law in a bid to counter a growing wave of militancy in the African country, which saw two fatal terror attacks claimed by ISIL earlier this year. Critics argue that the bill, which was issued following the March 26 attack on the Bardo museum that left 22 dead, falls short of global rights standards-notably in its broad definition of terrorism, identical to the 2003 version, and detention policy-and could fuel extremism. Under the new law, those convicted of terrorism could face the death penalty and expressions of support for terrorism are a jailable offence.

Reported by rights groups, the law served as a means to crush dissent, because it banned, in particular, the Islamist party Ennahda; surprisingly, the party is now a major player in the Tunisian politics.

The president of the parliamentary assembly, Mohamed Ennaceur, called the passing of the law a “historic” moment and said it would “reassure” the nation’s citizens.

Amna Guellali, the Human Rights Watch representative in Tunis, is one of the fiercest opponents of the law, claiming that bringing back the capital punishment for a number of crimes will pose a threat to human liberties in Tunisia. The death penalty can apply to anyone who “knowingly murders someone enjoying global protection”, a reference to people such as diplomats and worldwide civil servants.

However, rights groups have condemned the new measures as draconian.

A gunman killed 38 people in Sousse on June 28 in an attack claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).

The law will allow authorities to tap into suspects’ phones as well as detain suspects for up to 15 days without a lawyer, reported by the BBC.