Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham has said that a bill will be introduced in parliament to amend the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act.
The act was changed in 2016 during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen to ban rallies in Male' except for a designated place.
Appearing in the People's Majlis today, Usham noted that the current administration's legislative agenda includes amending the changes brought in 2016.
"Yes. It is on the legislative agenda of this government to amend the act. So we will submit the amendment to parliament," he said.
He was responding after Galolhu South MP Meekail Naseem pointed out that a social media post by Usham branded the 2016 changes unconstitutional.
Ihavandhoo MP Ahmed Naseer from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) asked Usham whether the right should be further restricted because rallies cause inconvenience to the public, as Male' is a small and crowded city.
Usham said the rights granted by chapter two of the constitution, including freedom of assembly, are not unlimited, and that is why the constitution says that laws can be made to limit the powers conferred by that chapter.
"The right to assembly should be exercised with respect for the rights of others," the AG said.
Usham was a parliament member in the 19th People's Majlis. At the time, efforts were made to repeal the amendments as it was a pledge of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
But the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration ended without the Majlis repealing the amendments.
Usham said a bill would be sent to parliament to review the law and make the necessary changes. However, he did not elaborate.
"When we submit it to parliament, as you said, we will do it in the same way as other countries like the Maldives do. The constitution also states that rights will be guaranteed to the same level as they are in other independent democracies," he said.
Expanding the right to assembly is included in President Mohamed Muizzu's manifesto. Article 19.11 of his manifesto, posted on the President’s Office website, states that he will expand freedom of assembly in a way that does not violate Islamic principles and by considering the standards of developed countries, where assembly is a fundamental right.
But the government has so far not made any efforts to lift the restrictions on freedom of assembly or to expand the right.
The regime has continued to obstruct peaceful gatherings by using force. The regime is also trying to silence dissenting voices by detaining and pressing charges against those who participate in rallies.
This year alone, police made arrests from the youth protests, journalists' protests and opposition protests.
Six people who were detained from MDP's October 3 rally are still in prison. The party is now preparing to hold a rally on November 17.
