Anti-money laundering law that Yemen passed few months ago disagreed with the constitution and fundamentally violated the basic rules of the bar, Secretary General of Arab Lawyers Union has said.

In a letter to President Saleh, according to the Al-Sahwa website, Ibrahim Al-Semlali wrote that the law was aggression against the independence of judiciary and the bar as well as conflicting with approved non-financial legislation worldwide.

Anti-money laundering laws everywhere focus on financial activities at the banks, exchange firms, financing and financial mediation, investment, insurance and building real estates and selling them, but lawyers are never part of the laws, Al-Semlali said.

We, the Arab Lawyers Union, call on you President Saleh to order under the article 102 of the Yemeni constitution to reconsider the law to ensure an independent judiciary and protect the bar and the rights of lawyers, Al-Semlali added in his letter.

The legal profession is always for the welfare of the people and protection of the their rights; hence, we urge Yemen to reconsider its anti-money laundering and terrorist financing law with the respect of the constitution, the rule of the law and improve legal reforms in the country, he concluded.