Egypt planning anti-terror law that includes death penalty
Interim President Adly Mansour also reviewing a protest law, similar to one from Mubarak's reign.
By ARIEL BEN SOLOMONAdli Mansour 370(photo credit: Reuters)
Egypt’s Justice Ministry is planning an anti-terrorism law that would include harsh sentences for violence or sabotage against state institutions, as well as the death penalty if people are killed as a result.As reported by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram on Wednesday, once the law is written it will be transferred to the cabinet for approval.In addition, interim President Adly Mansour is reviewing a protest law that recently passed a vote in the cabinet. Critics say it is similar to a law that was in force during the reign of ousted president Hosni Mubarak.The law would give the interior minister or senior police officers power to cancel, postpone or change the location of a protest, according to a report by the website Ahram Online. Also, governors would be able to create protest-free zones near state buildings.Gamal Eid, of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, criticized the new law, calling it “the same authoritarian approach” toward freedoms in the country.“Resorting to security and police solutions will lead to more failure and worsen the political conflict in Egypt,” Eid said.
