Government uses antiterrorism laws for residence orders

The government used antiterrorism legislation during the weekend of October 24 to issue residence orders, which are legal directives that restrict where individuals can live. These orders were applied to activists and demonstrators, even when they had no criminal history.

Orders target activists without criminal records

Residence orders were issued to activists who had not previously been convicted of any crimes. The Ministry of the Interior justified these actions using provisions from antiterrorism laws, which are typically designed to prevent threats to national security.

Practice expands rapidly

The use of antiterrorism tools to restrict activists’ movements was tested on October 24, but by the following week, the practice appeared to be widespread. This suggests that the government may be using these laws more broadly to control social movements.

Concerns over legal overreach

Critics argue that applying antiterrorism laws to restrict the movement of peaceful activists represents an overreach of legal authority. They warn that this could blur the lines between legitimate security measures and the suppression of dissent.