A bill seeking to repeal the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act has been submitted to the People’s Majlis.

The legislation, Law No. 1/2013, was targeted for repeal by MP for South Galolhu constituency Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who argues that the act undermines rather than protects the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. He contended that while Article 32 of the Constitution guarantees every individual the right to gather peacefully without prior state approval, the existing law imposes unnecessary restrictions that contradict this fundamental freedom.

The bill’s objectives emphasize that the act is redundant, as the police already possess sufficient legal authority under other statutes to ensure public order and safety. Its repeal, the proposal asserts, would restore the full scope of constitutional freedoms and remove legal barriers that have long been criticized for enabling the suppression of public demonstrations.

The bill to repeal the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act was formally submitted to the Majlis Secretariat on October 29, marking a renewed challenge to one of the most contentious pieces of legislation affecting civil liberties in the Maldives.