After 30 years, Egypt's notorious emergency law expires

Notorious remnant of Mubarak regime not expected to be renewed

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s notorious emergency law, in force since 1981, has lapsed at the end of a two-year extension passed by ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s parliament.

It is not expected to be renewed.

The law was a defining feature of Mubarak’s authoritarian, 29-year regime. It allowed police extensive powers to arrest and detain suspects. It was slapped on the country following the assassination in October 1981 of president Anwar Sadat, who was succeeded by Mubarak.

The lifting of the law was a key demand by the pro-democracy youth groups that engineered the uprising that toppled Mubarak 15 months ago. The restrictions had been eased significantly under the military rulers who took over after Mubarak’s ouster.