A new anti-terrorn law has been adopted by the Tunisian parliament following two devastating attacks this year, according to the BBC.
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Late on Friday, the Tunisian parliamentarians overwhelmingly passed the law, which garnered 174 “Yes” votes and 10 abstentions, while no one voted against it.
“The Tunisian authorities are rightly concerned about the growing influence of individuals and extremist groups and the threat they pose to their citizens and foreigners”, said Eric Goldstein of Human Rights Watch.
Under the new law, those convicted of terrorism could face the death penalty and expressions of support for terrorism are a jailable offence.
The law was approved almost a month after a gunman killed 38 people in the northern Mediterranean coastal city of Sousse on June 26.
The law will also make it easier for investigators to tap suspects’ phones. At least 36 others were also wounded in the shooting.
“The government says with the new bill it will be able to tackle the rise of violence, but it also says it needs financial and military support from the worldwide community so it can defeat armed groups”, our correspondent added. 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.
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On July 4, President Beji Caid Essibsi declared a month-long state of emergency in the country.
