Egypt’s president issues law regulating protests

Legislation proposed by military-backed government is heavily opposed by rights groups and political activists

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By AP 24 November 2013, 6:53 pm Edit

Protesters throw rocks at supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Nasr City district in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 (photo credit: AP/El-Shorouk newspaper, Sabry Khaled)

Egypt’s interim president has issued a new law regulating protests, weeks after the much-anticipated bill stirred serious criticism from rights and political groups.

Presidential spokesman Ihab Badawi said details of the law endorsed Sunday by President Adly Mansour will be published later.

The protest law, proposed by the military-backed government and debated for more than a month, comes 10 days after authorities lifted a three-month-long emergency order that granted security forces sweeping powers.

Rights groups and political forces say the law is designed to restrict protests. The bill as initially drafted required prior notice for protests and set high fines for violators.

Nineteen rights groups said the law, despite some amendments suggested by court, gives police forces unrestricted use of birdshot to put down protests.