SME Times is powered by   
Search News
Just in:   • Greatest champion of US-India partnership: US, other nations mourn passing of Dr Singh  • Global leaders pay tribute to former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh  • PM Modi condoles demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh  • Bird flu tightens grip on California as human cases rise  • Dr Singh presented milestone budget of 1991 which liberalised Indian economy: FM Sitharaman 
Last updated: 27 Sep, 2014  

Egypt.Flag.THMB.jpg New legal safeguards to limit use of Egypt's emergency law

Egypt.jpg
   Top Stories
» Global leaders pay tribute to former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh
» PM Modi condoles demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh
» 'I've lost a mentor and guide': Rahul Gandhi grieves demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh
» Dr. Manmohan Singh, legendary economist and former PM, passes away
» Micro insurance premium in life segment crosses Rs 10,000 crore in India
PR Newswire | 12 May, 2010

WASHINGTON: the Egyptian Government introduced draft legislation before Parliament that would significantly curtail the special powers provided under the country's Emergency Law, prohibiting the government from monitoring communications and media, confiscating publications and property and ordering evacuations. The legal limitations were part of the request presented to Parliament today to extend the state of emergency for a duration of 2 years.

"Egypt faces a very real and very serious terrorist threat, and the government's primary responsibility is to keep our citizens safe," said Sameh Shoukry, Egypt's Ambassador to the United States. "We look forward to a day when a state of emergency will not be necessary in Egypt. In the meantime, the new legal limits on the emergency law represent a significant step in moving towards a new comprehensive counterterrorism law, an important but difficult process which we are now attempting to resolve."

Under the draft legislation, the government may not exercise the following extraordinary powers previously available under Paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 6 of Article 3 of the Emergency Law, among them:

  • The monitoring of all forms of communication
  • The monitoring, censoring, and confiscation of media and publications, and the closure of publishing houses & broadcasters
  • The confiscation of property
  • The regulation of the hours of operation of commercial activities
  • The evacuation and isolation of certain areas.

The government would thus be limited to using only those authorities available under Paragraphs 1 and 5 of Article 3 of the Emergency Law, and only for the purposes of countering the threats of terrorism and narcotics trafficking. These include:

  • The arrest and detention of persons suspected of being involved in crimes of terrorism and narcotics trafficking
  • The searching of persons or places suspected of involvement in such crimes
  • The cancellation of licenses to bear arms or own explosive materials, and the right to confiscate them.

Throughout the use of the emergency law the government has consistently abided by its pledge to safeguard civil liberties and political rights in accordance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that it acceded to in 1981, which allows for the use of emergency powers in the face of grave security threats. Accordingly, the government has thereby undertaken to limit the application of the emergency law solely for the purposes of countering terrorism and narcotics trafficking. This legislation codifies the government's political commitment in the form of statutory limitations.

In his statement to the People's Assembly today requesting parliamentary approval of a limited renewal of the state of emergency, the Prime Minister reiterated the government's commitment to formulating a balanced counter-terrorism law and to lift the state of emergency as soon as it is adopted by Parliament.

 
Print the Page Add to Favorite
 
Share this on :
 

Please comment on this story:
 
Subject :
Message:
(Maximum 1500 characters)  Characters left 1500
Your name:
 

 
  Customs Exchange Rates
Currency Import Export
US Dollar
84.35
82.60
UK Pound
106.35
102.90
Euro
92.50
89.35
Japanese Yen 55.05 53.40
As on 12 Oct, 2024
  Daily Poll
Will the new MSME credit assessment model simplify financing?
 Yes
 No
 Can't say
  Commented Stories
 
 
About Us  |   Advertise with Us  
  Useful Links  |   Terms and Conditions  |   Disclaimer  |   Contact Us  
Follow Us : Facebook Twitter