Sisi releases decree to amend Protest Law

CAIRO - 2 May 2017: Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has released a decree to amend the Protest Law.

As stipulated by the decree that was published in the official newspaper al-Waqa'ia al-Masriya Tuesday, the Minister of Interior now has to submit a request to a court of first instance to cancel, postpone, or change the place or route of a protest, in case it threatens public security.

Before the amendment, the law had been a precaution against protests perceived as posing a threat to national security.

Protest Law was put into effect on Nov. 24, 2013, during former President Adly Mansour’s interim governance, providing the Ministry of Interior the right to cancel, postpone or move any protest deemed hazardous.