Egypt passes new law on 'terrorist' entities
Egypt has passed a new law defining individuals and entities to be deemed terrorist, prompting fears that many human rights activists and civil society organizations with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood will be targeted.
CAIRO — The “terrorist entities” law submitted by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and approved by Egypt's Cabinet on Nov. 26 has stirred a wide debate, especially among human rights activists and civil society organizations.
The law defines terrorist entities as “any association, organization, group or gang that practices, aims at or calls for destabilizing public order, endangers society’s well-being or its safety interests or endangers social unity by using violence, power, threats or acts of terrorism to achieve its goals.”
This definition raised the concerns of civil society organizations. Mohammad Zare, the head of the Arab Organization for Penal Reform, told Al-Monitor that the law contains many ambiguous expressions that may be subject to interpretation such as “public order," "endangers national unity" and "social peace.”
He said, “The state may consider criticizing practices that discriminate between Muslims and Copts a danger to 'national unity' or calling demonstrations a violation of the 'social peace.' The law allows for the consideration of civil society organizations and political movements such as April 6 or Kefaya terrorist entities.”
