industryterm:anti-protest law

Egypte - « Le gouvernement Sissi clairement prêt à tout pour écraser l’opposition intérieure, qu’elle soit laïque ou islamiste » dénonce HRW après la condamnation à 3 ans de prison de 23 personnes qui avaient manifesté contre la loi anti-manifestations | Communiqué Human Rights Watch

▻http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/26/egypt-23-sentenced-over-anti-protest-law

A Cairo court of minor offenses handed down three-year sentences to 23 people for breaking an anti-protest law that allows Egyptian authorities broad powers to ban or disperse most public demonstrations. One of those sentenced on October 20, 2014, Yara Sallam, is a researcher with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, one of the country’s leading human rights organizations. The court also fined the defendants 10,000 EGP (US$1,400) each.

Police arrested the group on June 21 at a peaceful protest where they were calling for the repeal of the law, which then-interim President Adly Mansour issued by decree on November 24, 2013. The defendants can appeal the verdict.

“It’s back to business as usual in Egypt, with the Egyptian government brazenly trampling on the rights of its citizens and Western governments supporting it,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director. “The Sisi government will clearly go to any length to crush domestic opposition, whether secular or Islamist.”

Rights activists estimate that authorities have arrested hundreds for breaking the law, which grants the Interior Ministry an absolute right to ban protests or public meetings on the basis of “serious information or evidence that there will be a threat to peace and security,” without requiring any proof. ”

Yara Sallam in jail, and the moral bankruptcy of the United States | a paper bird

▻http://paper-bird.net/2014/06/23/yara-sallam-in-jail-and-the-moral-bankruptcy-of-the-united-states

June 21 was an international day of solidarity against Egypt’s anti-protest law. The law – a decree introduced in November — clamps draconian punishments on demonstrations, including prison terms of 2-5 years for anyone “calling for disrupting public interests,” that is, criticizing the state. It was meant to bolster the rule of the military counter-revolution by choking the rich protest culture that grew up in Egypt after February 2011. Two days after the law was promulgated, activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah joined a demonstration against military trials for civilians. Two days after that, police broke down his door, slapped his wife, and arrested him for violating the protest law. This month, a court handed him and other defendants 15-year prison terms. Last month, another judge gave Mahienour el-Massry, a well-known rights lawyer, and eight others two-year sentences for demonstrating against the torture and murder of Khaled Said — a victim of Mubarak’s police whose killing helped spark the 2011 revolution. “The military authority stands now on the remains of its opposition,” a dissident said.

June 21 was meant to show support for the victims of Egypt’s new, systematic oppression of dissent.

#egypt #noprotestlaw #yara sallam

Protest law violates rights, freedoms - Egypt’s Al-Nur party leader
Text of report by Egyptian state-run news agency MENA

Cairo, 14 October: Member of the Salafi Al-Nur Party Dr. Tal’at Marzuq described the protest law, which was agreed upon by Interim President Adli Mansur, as “anti-protest law”, saying it violates the international conventions on human rights and freedoms.

In press statements on Sunday evening [13 October], Marzuq said this law should not be issued by an interim or any other government, asking why the law was not put up for societal dialogue?

He further underlined that Article 7 of the law - that allowed the interior minister to notify parties concerned of the protesters’ demands with the view of interacting with them to solve their problems - should not involve the postponement of the protest.

He also criticized Article 14 that stipulated that protests in front of public facilities should be from 50 to 100 meters away from them, saying this area is very large.

He concluded by expressing his rejection of the law on demos.

Source: MENA news agency, Cairo, in English 0630gmt 14 Oct 13

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