The Yemeni Bar discussed on Thursday 7/1/2010 the decision of the Yemen parliament to approve the anti- money laundering and terrorism finance law on its session dated 28/12/2009.
The bar truly feels very sorry to the ignorance of the financial committee at the parliament to the remarks presented by the bar on the law mentioned and declares its objection to the approval of the law due to its tremendous affect on the profession of advocacy and its morals and principles and contracting with the advocacy law and the independency of the profession.
The bar also feels very sorry to the allegations of the financial committee of the parliament in its report in terms of the law presented to the council which stipulates that "the
law has been studied extensively under the presence of the bar's representatives". The bar declares that its representatives have not been allowed to attend the sessions of the parliament and their remarks have been ignored completely.
The bar hereby, stresses its professional principles stipulated at the law of advocacy and approved by the Arab and international principles regarding the role of the advocates and approved by the UN in Havana in December 1990 and according to the UN and international conventions. The bar also warns to affect its principles under the pretext of international standards as per the allegations of the anti-money laundering committee , nevertheless the international standard as guarantee the independence of the advocacy profession and the necessity of enhancing the role of the advocacy considering that their fundamental role is to enhance the human rights and freedoms and ensure a fair trial , far from affiliation and pursuit or forcing them to be inspectors for their clients , otherwise subjecting to jail and humiliation as it is stipulated at the law project .
Under this dilemma, the bar appeals H.E the president of the republic, Ali Abdullah Saleh to stop the issuance of this irresponsibly law which breaches the human rights and public freedoms and considered a clear violation to the independence of the advocacy profession ensured by all local and international rules.
We are confident of the president's response by using his constitutional power particularly the article (102) of the constitution providing the president power of reconsidering the any law issued by the parliament considering to violate and contradict the Yemen regulations and breaching human rights in addition to the items of the law including threatening for the advocates in case they perform their duties independently.
Therefore, the bar will submit a request to H.E the president of the republic in the coming few days and we are hopeful to achieve the demands of all advocates to review the law project in order to get a law free from violations and breaches.
The bar calls the civil community organizations, Arab bar, international bar and all freedoms and rights activists to support our efforts for preventing the issuance of anti-money laundering and terrorism finance law in its current text.
Issued by the Yemen Bar
on Thursday on 7/1/2010.
