Govt to propose amendment to enhance freedom of assembly

The government of Maldives announced today that it plans to propose an amendment to existing legislature to the incoming Parliament, which would enhance the freedom of assembly in the country.

In a press conference held by the President's Office today, Chief Spokesperson of the President's Office Heena Waleed answered a question by a member of the press and said that with the incoming Parliament, the government plans to propose amendments to the changes brought to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act in 2016.

The government's position is to enhance freedom of assembly, Heena said.

"The government has plans to propose amendments to the Act when the new Parliament convenes. The government's goal is to enhance freedom of assembly to everyone as much as possible within the bounds of the law. So, amendments will hopefully be sent in for the Freedom of Assembly Act," she explained.

Although this was announced today, Minister of Homeland Security Ali Ihsan recently said that the government has no plans to fully dismiss the clause related to assembly in public places.

In a statement he made during a press conference in February, he detailed that the government will not fully abandon the Act, but that the president plans to provide concessions within the Act.

According to the amendments brought to the Act during President Abdulla Yameen's government, freedom of assembly within Malé is subject to police approval with the exception of gatherings held in the carnival area.

In light of the significant restriction placed on the freedom of assembly with this amendment, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih pledged to abolish the Act entirely.

However, the Parliament has not completed working on the amendment proposed to the floor by MP of Kaashidhoo constituency Abdulla Jabir on 8th August, 2019. The current Parliament's term ends on 15th of this month.