Egypt’s Parliament Approves the Presidential Decree to Extend the State of Emergency

Egypt’s parliament approved on Saturday El-Sisi’s presidential decree to extend the country’s state of emergency, that has been in effect for two years, for three more months on the grounds of fighting terrorism.

Ahram Online reported “a comfortable majority” of the parliament members voted in favor of the decree. The state of emergency began last week and will continue until July 24.

The state is now allowed to ”“take [measures] necessary to confront the dangers and funding of terrorism and safeguard security in all parts of the country.”

The emergency law can only be implemented for three months, after which it has to be renewed by the president and should be approved by the parliament.

It grants Egyptian authorities the right to intercept all forms of communications including social media. Civilians can also be referred to State Security Emergency Courts where they are unable to appeal verdicts, as such, it has been routinely criticized by human rights advocates.

The already-in-effect state of emergency was announced last year by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi when two churches were bombed in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday in 2017 killing 47 people.

A state of emergency refers to the government’s mobilization and empowerment to perform actions normally not permitted except in exceptional situations such as during wars, armed conflict or natural disaster.

The state of emergency, in Egypt, aims to curb ‘terrorism and its stop their fundings’. It is perceived as significantly timely by the government as efforts are amplified to fight Islamic insurgency in northern Sinai and other parts of the country.

*Cover Photo Credit: AP