Egypt to extend the emergency law

By-Egypt News

Egyptian Government called the parliament Tuesday for an extension of Egypt's controversial emergency law for two years, but restricting it during this period to terrorism and drugs trafficking crimes and with some new limitations on police powers

Meanwhile, more than 100 opposition lawmakers and democracy activists are protesting outside parliament demanding lawmakers reject any extension.

Egypt's Parliament, dominated by ruling party members, is due to vote on the measure on Tuesday and is certain to pass it.

The emergency law, in place since 1981, gives police wide powers of arrest. Under the new provisions, police would only be allowed to use them in cases connected to terrorism or drug dealing, and a few police powers would be eliminated, according to Cabinet minister Moufid Shehab.

On its part, Human rights groups said that the Egyptian Government has used the law to suppress dissent.

Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif called for an extension of the controversial law for an extra two years until the formulation of a balanced counter-terrorism law, addressing the Egyptian People's Assembly (lower house of parliament)

The request presented by the Egyptian prime minister included for the first time legal restrictions on both "the scope and the application of the emergency law," the government said in a press release.

"The reforms significantly curtail the special powers provided under the Emergency Law, prohibiting the government from monitoring communications and media, confiscating publications and property and ordering evacuations," the release said.
Under the proposed resolution, the government would be legally limited to using the authorities for purposes of countering the threats of terrorism and narcotics trafficking.

The authorities granted to the government will be restricted to the arrest of terrorist suspects and drug traffickers, searching people and places suspected of involvement in such crimes and the cancellation of licenses to possess arms or own explosive materials as well as the right to confiscate them.

"The government as it requests an extension of the state of emergency for a duration of two years, commits itself before the representatives of the nation not to utilizing extraordinary measures ... except for confronting the threat of terrorism and narcotics," Nazif said in his address amid heckling of opposition members.

Egypt's Emergency Law has been in force since 1981 following the assassination of late President Anwar Sadat by a group named Egyptian Islamic Jihad which violently opposed a peace treaty with Israel.

Under the proposed resolution, the government would be legally limited to using the authorities for purposes of countering the threats of terrorism and narcotics trafficking.

The authorities granted to the government will be restricted to the arrest of terrorist suspects and drug traffickers, searching people and places suspected of involvement in such crimes and the cancellation of licenses to possess arms or own explosive materials as well as the right to confiscate them.

"The government as it requests an extension of the state of emergency for a duration of two years, commits itself before the representatives of the nation not to utilizing extraordinary measures ... except for confronting the threat of terrorism and narcotics," Nazif said in his address amid heckling of opposition members.

Egypt's Emergency Law has been in force since 1981 following the assassination of late President Anwar Sadat by a group named Egyptian Islamic Jihad which violently opposed a peace treaty with Israel.