The Egyptian government is currently preparing a law that regulates the right to demonstration and peaceful protest and criminalizes the disruption of state facilities, said government sources on Tuesday. The sources, who requested anonymity, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the law was in the final stages of preparation.
The sources said the new law includes regulations for the organization of peaceful protests and how to deal with and protect them. It will also include articles guaranteeing the right to peacefully protest as long as the protests do not impede work, block roads or disrupt public services such as ports and railroads.
The sources went on to say that the Interior Ministry will apply the law to anyone blocking roads and railroads or disrupting traffic, and that anyone involved in such actions will be arrested and tried.
The sources added the law, after completion, will be presented to the Cabinet through the People’s Assembly’s Legislative Committee, chaired by the Minister of Justice, before it is presented to parliament for approval.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces approved a law last April that criminalized protests and strikes. Under the new law, anyone organizing or calling for a protest can be sentenced to jail and/or a fine of LE500,000.
A number of political forces, including revolutionary youth organizations, trade unions and MPs have denounced the law, which was also criticized by a number of politicians and legal experts who described it as a return to the policies of the former regime in suppressing protests.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
