Egypt’s new anti-terrorism law punishes anyone found guilty of forming or leading an alleged terrorist group with death.
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved an anti-terrorism law that sets up special courts and protects its enforcers in the face of a two-year-old Islamist insurgency that aims to topple his government. “The government has equipped itself with even greater powers to continue stamping out its critics and opponents under its vague and ever-expanding war on terrorism”. At least two militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ties between Cairo and Washington, long-time close allies, soured following the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
“We are concerned that some measures in Egypt’s new anti-terrorism law could have a significant detrimental impact on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including due process safeguards, freedom of association, and freedom of expression”, State Department spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday in a press briefing.
Kirby reiterated remarks made by Secretary of State John Kerry during strategic talks in Cairo earlier in August that called for creating a sense of balance between combating terrorism and preserving citizens’ right to disagree with authorities.
The law comes amid a string of attacks on military and police by the Sinai Province, the local affiliate of the group Islamic State (IS), and amid heavy crackdowns by the state against political dissenters. That is a lesser punishment than a draft version that included possible jail sentences for journalists. The new laws have been at the centre of debate in the country as different segments of the society have raised concerns that the law would give sweeping powers to the law enforcement authorities which can be misused to subdue even any voices of dissent towards the Government.
“As of today, journalists are legally prohibited from investigating, verifying, and reporting on one of the most important matters of public interest”, CPJ Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour said.
The journalists, along with Al-Jazeera, have repeatedly insisted they were doing their jobs reporting the news.
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Canadian national Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Australian Peter Greste were all sentenced to prison, but an appeals judge ordered a new trial after ruling there was not sufficient evidence to support the charges.
