Egypt Passes Law Restricting Public Protests

[Purveyor]

Source: Aljazeera.com

Cairo - Egypt's interim president, Adly Mansour, has signed a restrictive new "protest law" that would require Egyptians to seek approval days in advance before organising demonstrations.

The law will take effect later this week once the final text is published in the official state register. It gives police wide latitude to use force against demonstrators, which could give the government a pretext for a widespread crackdown.

The law has gone through numerous revisions, but rights groups say the latest version requires protesters to seek approval from police three days in advance, and allows the interior ministry to block rallies that could "pose a serious threat to security or peace".

Election campaign events are subject to a 24-hour notification period in some drafts, and "processions" of more than 10 people are only allowed for "non-political" purposes. Violators could face fines of up to $4,360.

Read more: Link to source

[JDPriestly]

1. Hey! Isn't that like America?

Does your town require you to get a permit before you have a protest?

[Posteritatis]

2. Yeah, but it doesn't fire live ammo into the crowds when they march anyway. (nt)

[Lancero]

4. Not yet we don't...

But with how militarized the police are becoming, it's only a few years off.

[Igel]

3. Some places.

Not others. Often it depends on the size of the protest. If it's a march, then more often yes.

And typically it's more of a "give notice," not banning political speech or groups.


It's also non-partisan. This is specifically partisan.

Finally, this is the kind of thing that makes many people mad and think the US is repressive. It hardly qualifies as justification for hailing such a law as progressive or enlightened. And that's even if you just look at superficialities.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Coupocracy.

[BelgianMadCow]

6. Same is happening in Spain - huge fines for protesting near congress or lawmakers' homes

the democracy veneer is wearing thin.