Revolutionary groups have reacted strongly against the government's announcement at the weekend that it intends to fully apply the provisions of the existing Emergency Law in response to recent riots outside the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
Khaled Talima, member of the 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition, said the announcement was a restriction on freedom of expression, while his colleague Amr Hamed said the move was damaging to the image of the revolution.
“What happened at the Israeli Embassy was a premeditated plan to justify the announcement of a state of emergency and postpone the transition of power,” said Hamed.
Mohamed Adel, spokesman for the April 6 Youth Movement, wondered how the government could announce its intention to apply the full force of the state of emergency when it was one of the reasons why the revolution has erupted in the first place.
“The military council is thereby repeating the policies of the old regime,” Adel said.
Meanwhile, Tagammu Party spokesman Nabil Zaki said he expected a wave of violence against demonstrators as part of the government's intended crackdown.
Akmal Qertam, president of the Conservative Party, requested that the military council set a limited period of time for applying the Emergency Law, while Tarek al-Malt, spokesman of Wasat Party, said it was a punishment for the whole nation.
Professor of law Hossam Eissa expected the state of emergency would be terminated with the commencement of the parliamentary elections. “The military council will have to come up with a plausible justification if this does not happen,” he said.
Amr al-Shobky, expert at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, agreed with Eissa, while his colleague, Amr Hashem approved of the announcement. “It is necessary to enact the power of the state for it to retain its prestige,” he said.
Wafd Party leading member Yassin Tag Eddin, for his part, approved of the military council's decision. “The state of insecurity on the streets warrants such a decision,” he said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
