Egypt Muslim Brothers reject terrorism law to replace emergency law
Egypt, Politics, 3/22/2006

The Muslim Brothers group in Egypt rejected the government's plans to replace a new law to fight terrorism in the place of the emergency law that has been in effect in Egypt since 1981.

Abrogating the emergency law and other special laws and courts are on the forefront of demands set by all Egyptian opposition forces. The state of emergency allows the detention of persons without trials indefinitely. According to it, the freedom of mass assembly is also restricted. A matter which negatively affects the activities of the Egyptian parties in the Egyptian street, according to the opposition views.

The representatives for the Muslim Brothers groups intensified opposition to the emergency state, indicating that replacing it by imposing new freedom restricting laws, has the same effect as the emergency laws.

Chairman of the parliamentary bloc for the Muslim Brothers, Muhammad Saad al-Katatni, said in a press conference "no reasonable man should think that there will be a comprehensive development without a human development, with freedom as its backbone." He added that no other laws should be prescribed supporting what he called tyranny and repression.

Katatni stressed the rejection of the Muslim Brothers groups to what he called repressive detention acts. He said these are " irresponsible behaviors that will never lead to stability." Worthy mentioning that the Egyptian authorities have frequently launched acts of detention in the lines of leaderships and members of the Muslim Brothers on charges the main of which an attempt to revive an illegal organization. The Muslim Brothers are banned by law in Egypt.

He added that Muslim Brothers parliamentarians (88 members in parliament) refused the statements of the government which was read by prime minister Ahmad Nazif on January 30. He considered that "the statement in the political and legislative field was weak and fragile." He also accused the government of backtracking from political and legislative reform promises.

During his election campaign in 2005, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak promised to draw a new legislation to replace the emergency law. The Egyptian prime minister said during his visit to London last week that the new law will be submitted to the parliament for approval, shortly.

Previous Stories:
  Nazif: religion-based political parties a bad idea   (3/21/2006)
  US government report on Egypt's human rights   (3/11/2006)
  Al-Baz: Mubarak will retire when finds a successor   (3/8/2006)
  Ayman Nour criticizes Mubarak's regime, wants seperation of powers   (8/19/2005)
  Mubarak vows end to emergency law   (8/18/2005)

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