According to the BBC, the laws establish special courts and offer additional protection from legal consequences for military and police officers who have used force. The law clearly defines the concept of terrorism, terrorist crimes, terrorist groups and criminals, and contains a precise list of penalties for offenses related to terrorism.
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Egypt has been facing an intensified insurgency by jihadists aligned to the Islamic State militant group in the Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip since al-Sissi, as army chief, deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.
The Egyptian president vowed back in June to bring in tough new legislation, following the assassination by vehicle bomb of a public prosecutor. Anyone found guilty of joining a militant group could face 10 years in prison.
Advocating terrorist acts “directly or indirectly” will be punished by a jail term of at least five years.
The stringent law also sets a minimum fine of 200,000 pounds (about United States dollars 25,000) and a maximum of 500,000 pounds for contradicting the authorities’ version on terror attacks and publishing or spreading “false” reports in this regard.
Forming or leading a group deemed a “terrorist entity” by the government will be punishable by death or life in prison. The original draft of the law was amended following domestic and global outcry after it initially called for imprisonment.
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Al-Sisi took power in 2013, after former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was forced from office during the country’s uprising. Thousands of alleged Islamist supporters have been jailed and scores have been sentenced to death, including Mursi and other senior Muslim Brotherhood figures. The Brotherhood says it is committed to peaceful protest.
