Lawyers and experts warned against the new law meant for fighting money laundering and terrorism referred recently to parliament by the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

In a written objection sent to parliament, Yemeni lawyers Syndicate Sana'a branch warned against the new law of money laundering and terrorism fighting and described it as catastrophic. It also demanded removing clauses (c) and (d) in article No.2 and the first clause of article No. 14.

The letter also stated that the new law draft has intruded upon the lawyers' profession and its independence as well as the secrecy principle upon which the profession is built, particularly when the lawyers are to get licensed and supervised by the Ministry of Justice.

It added that the law binds lawyers to disclose the secrets of their customers and to inform everything about him, maintaining the lawyer is subjected to fining and imprisonment in case he fails to commit himself to the law.

Lawyer Hizam Al-Muraisi pointed out the new money laundering and terrorism fighting law draft aims at turning lawyers to investigators under the name of law and called upon political powers, media and civil society organizations to stand against the law for it being against the interest of the country. “The law will make all lawyers become directly censored by the government. This in return will not give customers nor lawyers any privacy in their work because all information must be given to authorities according to the new law.”

Al-Muraisi added the country already has enough problems, and it cannot bear more, especially with laws that do not serve the national interest, but rather weaken and destroy its institutions.

For his part, lawyer Faisal Al-Majeedi warned against what he called dangerous texts which harm the profession and its role meant to achieve justice.

Al-Majeedi stressed that lawyers will not remain inactive in case government insists on passing the law by parliament, hinting they will resort to all legal and peaceful means including demonstrations and sit-ins.