New Zealand's parliament approves new anti-terrorism laws

PanARMENIAN.Net - New Zealand's parliament has approved new anti-terrorism laws aimed at countering the domestic threat posed by overseas extremist groups.

The bill passed late on Tuesday, Dec 9, by 94 votes to 27. It permits video surveillance for 24 hours without a warrant and the cancellation of passports for up to three years for those suspected of involvement in terrorism, BBC News reports.

Prime Minister John Key said it was a response to an evolving situation.

"The threats faced by New Zealand have grown and it is important that we have the ability to respond to that," Key said in a statement.

In a speech last month, he said there were individuals inspired by militant Islamist groups such as the Islamic State (IS) "who are attracted to carrying out domestic attacks".

"Government agencies have a watch list of between 30 and 40 people of concern in the foreign fighter category," he said on Nov 4. “These are people in or from New Zealand who are in various ways participating in extremist behavior.”

Some had travelled to Syria to fight, he said, while others were involved in funding extremism or radicalizing other people.

The "Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill", which was also backed by the opposition Labor party, is temporary and will expire in 2017.