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New anti-terror law approved by the President

The law stipulates from life imprisonment to capital punishment in addition to huge financial fines against those found guilty.

The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Wednesday gave the nod to the country’s first and toughest anti-terror law that will come into force with immediate effect.

It is one of the country’s laws that has been drafted, sent for the Federal National Council (FNC) approval and then for the Presidential assent in a shortest period of time because of its importance and fears of terrorist threats in the region.

The law is considered one of the toughest and most comprehensive and of international level. It stipulates from life imprisonment to capital punishment in addition to huge financial fines against those found guilty.

The law stipulates that those found guilty of attacking or threatening the President, the Vice-President or any of the Rulers of the Emirates and their family members, and those conspiring against the state and government will face capital punishment. The fines include up to Dh100 million under the law.

The law also includes a wide range of related criminal issues, including human trafficking and money laundering, financing of terrorist and other crimes. Those involved in carrying out, planning or assisting to carry out terrorist activities in the country or planning such activities outside but planned here will face these penalties.

The law further deals with secret organisations with evil intentions and organisations and individuals having links with militants outfits based outside the country. The terrorist acts under the law include all kinds of intentions that are threat to the society and the state, including hijacking, holding innocent people hostage and having links with terrorist organisations outside the country.

The FNC for the first time last month held an extraordinary meeting during its summer recess and at night to discuss the landmark law, and after thorough debate approved it and sent it back to the Federal Cabinet, which after its approval referred it for the Presidential assent.

“The FNC meeting went through article by article and clause by clause in the bill and finally approved it with minor amendments and recommendations. The entire house was unanimous of the view the bill should be approved and implemented as soon as possible to enable us make the country’s security soundproof,” said a member.

The member from Al Ain also said it was so well-drafted bill that it did not need lengthy debate for its approval.

“It is a well-drafted law covering all issues that might be a threat to the state. For instant, one who has any kind of relations with any terrorist groups even outside the country will be dealt with under this law. Another important thing about the law is that the rights of all those suspected of having any terrorist activity intentions are also protected under the law. All the suspects will be referred to the court for a fair trial,” said a scholar requesting anonymity.

According to FNC members and observers, it was the right time to speed up the approval and implementation of the law when terrorist activities are spreading around the world, including in the region.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com