President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday, ratified the second amendment to the 'Prevention of Terrorism Act'.
As per the new amendments, Maldives Police Service are authorised to make warrantless arrests for certain criminal acts that constitute terrorism, as well as conduct inspections and strip searches under specific circumstances.
The bill criminalises supporting extremist ideologies, including political and religious extremism, and fear mongering within society.
The amendments were met with concern from the public, including lawmakers of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
While MDP expressed concerns that the new changes would infringe on basic human rights and individual freedom, and in particular the new powers granted to the police to make warrantless arrests, the President's Office's Legal Counsel Abdulla Afeef assured that the bill would not curb any major rights.
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