The local Anti-Terrorism Act was passed with the explicit intention of using it to target political opponents of the government, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy has said.

The parliamentarian said, while speaking at a program on Raajje Television, that the the law is being used to selectively prosecute opponents of the current government and head of state, President Abdulla Yameen. 

Highlighting how the law has been used loosely to apply to a broad range of crimes, the lawmaker said that the law undermines exisiting laws and renders the 'penal code obsolete'. 

The law had been criticized as such when it was proposed in parliament by pro-government lawmakers. The law includes activities of political parties, civil society organisations, and the media, as well as advocacy for constitutional rights as terrorism.