Anti-terrorism legislation

Anti-terrorism laws are rules made by governments to stop and prevent harmful acts meant to scare or hurt people. These laws often appear after big events like bombings or killings. They let the government act faster and in special ways that are not usual, saying it is needed to keep everyone safe.

Because these laws change normal rules, some people worry they might be used in unfair ways. Critics think they could hurt regular people who are standing up for what they believe in, and might give too much power to leaders. This can make people feel that their rights are not fully protected.

Some experts have said that the way these laws are written might be used against people who are not doing anything violent, just speaking up for their ideas. In some places, groups that protest in certain ways have been described as dangerous, even if they are not using force. However, in some countries, peaceful protests are not considered terrorism.

International conventions related to terrorism and counter-terrorism cases

Terrorism has been an important global issue since 1934, when the League of Nations started working on rules to stop and punish terrorism. Although these rules were agreed upon in 1937, they never became active.

Today, there are 15 international agreements in place to help countries work together to prevent terrorism. These agreements were created by the United Nations and its groups, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In 2006, the UN General Assembly also agreed on a "Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy" to help all nations work together to keep people safe.

Anti-terrorist legislation in the European Union

Many countries have special laws to help stop harmful groups and actions. These laws are often made after big events to keep people safe.

In the European Union, several important laws and decisions help protect people. For example, France has had laws since the 1800s to stop harmful activities. Today, special units can hold people they think might be planning harmful acts while they collect more information.

Other countries like Italy, Belgium, Ireland, and the United Kingdom also have their own laws to fight harmful actions. These laws change over time to better protect everyone.

Anti-terrorism legislation in common law countries (other than the UK)

Australia

Some people worry these laws take away important freedoms. A judge said these laws change basic rights in a very strong way.

Bangladesh

The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 started being used from June 11, 2008.

Canada

Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act, 2001
Bill S-7, the Combating Terrorism Act, 2012
Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015

Suppression of Terrorist Activities Ordinance, 1975 enacted by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The law was used in some areas until 1997, and in others until August 2001.
1997 Anti-Terrorism Act, signed on August 17, 1997, by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This law was made after a bombing in January 1997. It created special courts to handle these cases.
24 October 1998 Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance issued by Nawaz Sharif's government. Changes included giving judges longer terms and changing how appeals worked.
Pakistan Armed Forces (Acting in Aid of Civil Power) Ordinance, 1998. This gave the military more powers in certain areas.
30 January 1999: the Pakistan Armed Forces Ordinance of 1998 was extended to the whole country. Later that year, it was declared unconstitutional.
27 April 1999: repeal of the Armed Forces (Acting in Aid of Civil Power) ordinance. Some parts stayed in the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act.
27 August 1999: amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, applying special courts across the country.

Russia

Yarovaya law

In 2017 Ukraine opened a case against Russia for actions in Autonomous Republic of Crimea and part of Donbas.

South Africa

South African Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967
Anti-Terrorism Bill (Bill as approved by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Safety & Security on 2003/11/13)
Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism & Related Activities Act, 2004

United States

Federal

Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989
Executive Order 12947 signed by President Bill Clinton Jan. 23, 1995, Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process, and later expanded.
Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995
US Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996
Executive Order 13224, signed by President George W. Bush Sept. 23, 2001, which allows the seizure of assets of groups or people supporting terrorism.
2001 Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools for Intercepting and Obstructing Terrorism Act (USA Patriot Act)
Homeland Security Act of 2002
Border Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005
Real ID Act of 2005
Military Commissions Act of 2006
Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006

Ohio

Ohio Patriot Act

Anti-terrorism legislation in civil law countries (outside the European Union)

China

China passed Counterterrorism Law on December 27, 2015. This law has 10 chapters and 97 articles, and it started being used on January 1, 2016. Before this law, China did not have a complete set of rules to fight against terrorism, though some ideas were in other laws.

The law includes new rules for internet and technology companies. For example, it says that internet companies must check the identity of each user. If a user does not agree to this check or does not give a clear identity, the company must refuse to give them services. Companies that do not follow these rules could face fines, orders to fix their actions, and their managers could even be detained for a short time.

Chile

Some groups, like the Mapuche, have faced problems with anti-terrorism laws in Chile. These laws were first made during a time when the government was not free, and later governments made them even stronger. In 2018, a group called Amnesty International asked Chile to stop using these laws against Mapuche people who were involved in land disagreements. They believe these actions are not the same as terrorism.

El Salvador

In 2006, El Salvador made an anti-terrorism law. Many people, including different political groups, said this law could be misused against people who speak up for their rights. The government first tried to use it against people selling things on the street who did not want to move. Later, in 2007, the government tried to use the law against people protesting against a plan to change how water was managed in the country. The charges were later dropped.

Israel

Israel has used special rules for many years to fight terrorism. In 2016, after careful work by the Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked, the Knesset made a new law against terrorism. This law makes many kinds of terrorism and support for terrorism illegal and sets strong punishments.

Peru

Peru made anti-terrorism laws in 1992 when Alberto Fujimori was president. These laws were criticized because they led to unfair trials. Some people were wrongly accused of terrorism and kept in prison. One example is Lori Berenson, a person from the United States, who was imprisoned for many years under these laws.

Philippines

The Human Security Act was made in 2007 to fight militant groups in the southern part of the Philippines. The law allows some special actions, like keeping someone in prison for three days without a warrant, but it also says that people must be told about their arrest right away and can see a lawyer, a priest, a doctor, or family members. The law can lead to long prison sentences, but there are ways to fix mistakes if they happen.

Indonesia

After bombings in October 2002 on the island of Bali, Indonesia made new laws to fight terrorism. These laws were made quickly because of the emergency situation. Later, the government made these rules into a formal law. Some people have concerns about these laws because they allow for longer detentions and can use secret information as evidence.

Turkey

Turkey had an Anti-Terror Law that was made in 1991. This law was changed a little in 1995 but was later removed. The law punished many actions that were not violent, including speaking about ideas that could be seen as supporting separateness. Some peaceful people, like writers, were put in prison under this law. After changes in 2004, people arrested under the Anti-Terror Law can see a lawyer right away.

Ukraine

In 2017, Ukraine started a case against Russia because of its role and support in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and parts of Donbas.

Anti Terrorist Act, 2009 passed in Bangladesh

Main article: Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009

This law started on June 11, 2008. It helps special courts in Bangladesh to deal with serious crimes related to harmful actions against safety.