Parliament rejects bill seeking to repeal act constricting right to assembly

Parliament, on Monday, has rejected the bill submitted by main opposition MDP seeking to repeal the act constricting the right to freedom of assembly.

South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem from MDP, which is the minority in the Parliament at present, submitted a bill proposing to repeal the Freedom of Assembly Act on November 3^rd.

According to Meekail, the bill is aimed at enabling the public to exercise their constitutional right to assemble to the fullest extent.

During Monday’s parliamentary session, only 10 lawmakers, all from the opposition, supported the bill, while 48 lawmakers voted against it, resulting in its rejection.

Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right enshrined in the Maldivian Constitution.

But in 2016, the Parliament amended the Freedom of Assembly Act, banning political rallies in the Maldivian capital without prior written permission from the police. It was also stipulated that political rallies and gatherings may only be held in locations determined by the Home Ministry, which has designated only three locations for assemblies in Male’.

This 2016 amendment was made amid intense political turmoil during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. 

The successive MDP administration came to power on a promise to repeal the law: something they failed to do despite the party having supermajority in the Parliament. It is also an electoral pledge of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to repeal the controversial law.  Attorney General Ahmed Usham announced the government’s decision to amend the Freedom of Assembly Act on October 15^th, without providing any further details regarding the matter.