The People’s Majlis has passed the hate crimes bill.

The bill was passed by the unanimous votes of 50 parliamentarians that attended Tuesday’s sitting.

Sponsored by MP for Thulhaadhoo constituency Hisaan Hussain, the bill was reviewed and amended by the Judiciary Committee and presented to the Majlis floor on Tuesday.

During the review stage initially, the committee had sought recommendations and opinions from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, Prosecutor General’s Office as well as the public.

When the committee report was submitted at first, amendments were presented by MP for Dhaandhoo constituency Yaugoob Abdulla. It was sent back for committee review then, during August.

Committee Chair Imthiyaz Fahmy had revealed that written recommendations had been sought from the Attorney General’s Office and Islamic Ministry the second time round. The amended bill was passed on Tuesday.

Under the bill, publicly accusing a person of being a non-believer of Islam or standing against Islam and using Islamic faith to incite hatred against a person is to be criminalized.

Further, accusing a person or labeling them as a ‘Kafir’ or anti-Muslim unless the person carries out an act of ‘Kufr’ will also be considered a crime.

Another amendment added to the bill removes hindrances from declaring what is Sunnah and what is stated in the Holy Quran in connection to various matters.

Criminalizing disrespectful and negative remarks against Islam is also included in the bill and so is spreading false information regarding the religion, Quran and Prophet Mohamed (PBUH.