MALE, 09 July 2021, (TON): The Parliament, cancelled the vote on the content Parliament approves Niyazy for appointment as next Auditor General Parliament approves Niyazy for appointment as next Auditor Generalious government bill amend the Penal Code to criminalize acts of hate, and sent it back to the Judiciary Committee.

The Parliament was set to vote on the passage of the bill this Thursday.

During the debate on the committee report, many MDP parliamentarians said that Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain, who sponsored the bill, was receiving death threats, and expressed concern the government hasn’t spoken in her defense.

Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla announced the MDP parliamentary group has decided to cancel the vote and send the bill back to the committee.

MDP parliamentary group leader, Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim presented a motion to send the bill back to the committee. The motion was seconded by Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed.

39 parliamentarians voted in favor of the motion, while three votes against, and two abstained.

The bill declares accusing a specific person of violating Islam or standing against Islam in public, inciting hatred against a specific person within the community by citing Islamic faith, and accusing, describing or taking part in describing a Muslim as a kafir in public are as acts of hate.

Judiciary Committee made several changes to the bill during its review.