Tunisia’s parliament has voted overwhelmingly to pass the country’s new anti-terror law despite fears by rights groups that it could be abused.
The new anti-terror law which seeks to counter the threat posed by Islamist militants.
In a late-night session Friday, 174 deputies voted for the legislation, 10 abstained and no one voted against it.The law replaces earlier legislation from 2003 and is designed to facilitate efforts to combat terrorism.
Discussion over the law, especially whether it might open the way to rights abuses, stretched on for years but was given new impetus with a pair of devastating attacks on tourists in March at a Tunis museum and then last month a beach resort.
MPs passed the law overwhelmingly after three days of debate.Mohamed Ennaceur, president of the assembly, called it a “historic” moment and said the new law would “reassure” Tunisians.
The law will also make it easier for investigators to tap suspects’ phones.Advocacy groups have warned that the law’s definition of terrorist crimes is too vague and they say it fails to safeguard the rights of defendants.
The new powers allow authorities to detain suspects for 15 days without access to a lawyer or appearance before a judge.Critics have also condemned the return of capital punishment after a lengthy moratorium on executions.
A gunman killed 38 people in Sousse on 28 June in an attack claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).In March, 21 tourists died when gunmen stormed the Bardo museum in the capital, Tunis.
