Highlights:
- Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved the new strict counter-terrorism laws in Egypt that were introduced on 17th
- The laws will encompass the establishment of special courts to deal with terrorism crimes and hefty fines on journalists and bloggers that contradict official reports on attacks
- The new laws have been introduced following the assassination of Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat and attacks on security forces in North Sinai
Summary:
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved the new strict counter-terrorism laws in Egypt that will be imposed to hell curb terrorism in the country.
The laws stipulate the establishment of special court that will fast-track the trial of suspected Islamist militants. Any individual found guilty of joining or belonging to a terrorist organization will be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In attempts to control the information disseminated on any attacks by the militants, Journalist found reporting incidents and figures about attacks that differ from the Egyptian Defence Ministry will be fined between 16,000- 41,000 euros.
International entities like the Amnesty International have warned that the laws are very stringent and can only be invoked in a state of emergency. This has however been refuted and termed as necessary laws to deal with jihadist.
The laws on journalists and bloggers despite their inclination towards limiting the right to freedom of expression they are a necessarily measure that will inhibit mainstream media from advancing the militants attacks both directly and indirectly.
These laws that have been introduced should however be handled with great care and in respect to the rule of law as they trend on very thin line towards human rights violations. In the same breathe they are a necessarily measure to deal with the terrorism menace and will instill fear in the militants and inculcate information management in times of crises.
