CAIRO — It took only minutes for activists to witness Egypt’s controversial new protest law in action on Nov. 26. After warnings issued through loudspeakers, police forces used water canons and tear gas to disperse two separate protests in the downtown area, beating some with batons and fists, and arresting more than 50.

The first arrests came just after 2 p.m., when police reportedly told protesters outside the Journalist’s Syndicate downtown that their demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the death of activist Gaber “Jika” Salah, 16, was illegal according to a new law issued on Nov. 24 by interim President Adly Mansour.

The 25-article law requires a three-day notice of public meetings and electoral gatherings to the Interior Ministry. Fines of up to 300,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $43,540) and prison sentences of up to seven years may be imposed on those judged as violators of the law.

Soon after the announcement, police sprayed water canons and used batons to beat demonstrators and arrest some of them, according to Twitter reports.