The Bulgarian Parliament has adopted on first reading a controversial new anti-terrorism bill. It will now have a second reading before being sent for the president's signature, after which it would become law. According to human rights activists, the legislation allows arbitrariness of the police and special services. In July, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee expressed in an open letter its position against the current edition of the law, arguing that it allows fundamental human rights to be restricted by the authorities without the need of a judicial warrant.