- Title: MAURITANIA: New terrorism law adopted
- Date: 9th July 2010
- Summary: NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA (JULY 8, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIORS OF SENATE BUILDING VARIOUS OF SENATORS DEBATING NEW TERRORISM LAW SENATORS VOTING NEW TERRORISM LAW NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA, (JULY 7, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) ( French) SID AHMED OULD AHMED, LEADER OF THE UPR MAJORITY GROUP IN PARLIAMENT, SAYING: "It seems to me that there is no specific threat. Our religio
- Embargoed: 24th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mauritania
- Country: Mauritania
- Topics: Legal System,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1N4T2QTJ5GWQ7S3HO7U74HQCB
- Story Text: Mauritania adopted a new anti-terrorism law on Thursday (July 8), giving its security forces greater powers in the fight against al Qaeda.
The West African desert nation, alongside neighbours Mali, Algeria and nearby Niger, is under pressure to improve its own capacity and regional co-ordination against the Islamists, who have carried out a string of kidnappings and attacks on authorities.
The law was passed by Mauritania's National Assembly this week and then in the Senate on Thursday.
"I think that it is a worldwide phenomenon and the people who choose to commit these acts of terrorism, choose places that seem easy in which to commit these acts. So, we should not make it easier for them. We need to have strategy in place to dissuade them so that we can stop this phenomenon," said Sid Ahmed Ould Ahmed, leader of the UPR majority group in parliament.
A previous version of the bill had to be changed after opposition politicians said it violated civil liberties and made an appeal to the Constitutional Court which rejected it stating many of its articles were unconstitutional.
Under the new law, restrictions on house searches or wire-taps by the security forces -- formerly in place due to Islamic laws -- are lifted, as long as authorisation is granted by a judge. The move has some opposition members of parliament worried about civil liberties.
Those under the age of 18 can also be charged under the new law, unlike before, when they were protected by Islamic legislation.
"What bothers us the most is the possibility that wire taps will be allowed under this new law, people's homes can be searched and the possibility that minors can go to prison for about 12 years," said opposition member, Bedahya Ould Sbai.
Opposition lawmakers still worry that the revised legislation will be abused and say they will challenge the law in the Constitutional Court.
Yahya Ould Al Barah, a professor at Nouakchott University, said he believed the law was passed under pressure from the West.
"I think that the current law is a bit exaggerated because there is no real jihad threat in Mauritania. Most of the jihadists are in prisons. The situation is very calm. So, I think that it is something that is begin imposed on us from outside, from the U.S or from France. There are those who say that French troops who are currently on the Mauritanian territory, or even in Algeria, who have lost various soldiers. So, I don't think this is only a Mauritania issue," he said.
The new law also grants immunity to members of terrorist groups who inform the authorities of a planned attack.
A number of Westerners have been shot by suspected Islamists in Mauritania, but kidnappings for ransoms and attacks on isolated security patrols are more common. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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