Egypts interim president on Sunday banned public gatherings of more than 10 people without prior government approval, imposing hefty fines and prison terms for violators in a bid to stifle the near-constant protests roiling the country. The new law is more restrictive than regulations used under the rule of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, overthrown in Egypts 2011 uprising that marked the start of unrest in the country. Rights groups and activists immediately denounced it, saying it aims to stifle opposition, allow repressive police practices and keep security officials largely unaccountable for possible abuses. Egypt on edge: key players, flashpoints, developments The law is giving a cover to justify repression by all means, said Bahy Eddin Hassan, head of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, one of the local groups that had campaigned against the law. The military-backed government first floated the law in October. Interim President Adly Mansour approved a slightly amended version Sunday, which removed a proposed ban on sit-ins and a draft portion criminalizing insulting the state. cbc.ca/news/world/egypt-anti-protest-law-limits-public-gatherings-1.2438669
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:39:51 +0000
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