Egypt Government Passes Law Criminalizing Protests and Strikes

Source

The Egyptian government on Wednesday passed a law criminalizing protests and strikes. Under the new law, anyone organizing or calling for a protest will be sentenced to jail and/or a fine of LE500,000.

The new law will be enforced as long as the current Emergency Law is in place, said the Council of Ministers in a statement on Wednesday. The Emergency Law has been in force since 1981 following the assassination of former President Anwar Sadat.

The new law will apply to anyone inciting, urging, promoting or participating in a protest or strike that hampers or delays work at any private or public establishments.

Since the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February, Egypt has witnessed nationwide labor strikes and political protests. Among those protesting have been university students, political activists, railway workers, doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, journalists, pensioners, and the police force.

What?! This is crazy...

I am not sure what is going on over there but this in and of itself is crazy. How can people not be allowed to unite over something they think is oppressing them?

Crazy world we live in...

Any thoughts?

Pred...

I wasn't even aware that they had a government anymore....

strange that protest brings down government. government brings down protest. now what?

I saw this coming and am surprised it didn't come sooner, really.

I see Egypt as a testbed, of sorts. What you see happening there could happen anywhere at any time, and the results would be the same.

To be honest, I think there's enough anger and outrage going on over there right now that this "law" will do little good

Funny, I seem to recall our MSM and Govt' officials telling us how this was finally going to lead to 'Democracy" for Egypt............................Dosen't smell like democracy to me!!

Actually this does look like democracy.

Whoever has the most organized group gets to vote away the rights of everyone else.
Looks like the Egyptians got that "freedom" they wanted.

Technically things are in a state of martial law in Egypt at the moment until new elections can proceed. It is going to take time for a new power structure to develop and for the people to work out who is going to vote for who and who can do what. Some disruption is to be expected, but the city still needs to hold its self together until the new political structure can be decided upon and implemented. Organised rallies and meetings are one good way to work out who is who in this new political dynamic. Protests and strikes are just unproductive and a waist of time as there is no solid leadership to take your grievances to.

Originally posted by OUNjahhryn
I wasn't even aware that they had a government anymore....

edit on 24-3-2011 by OUNjahhryn because: (no reason given)

No kidding... they seem to still passing laws though.

I wonder as how could they come to decide this...

Pred...

reply to post by predator0187


Umm yeah,

I don't know if the Egyptian government is in any position to be telling its citizens what they can and cannot do.
Last time I checked, they just got their asses handed to them by the citizens.
Mubarak didn't like the citizens protesting either and well,.....we all saw how that one turned out.

This is like somebody with a handfull of sand that just keeps gripping tighter and tighter.
Never at any point understanding why the sand keeps slipping thru their fingers.

To TPTB.

GAME OVER.
CHECK MATE.
YOU LOSE.
It aint gonna work. You can only supress the human spirit for so long.
Times up.

A U.S.-backed coup - a U.S.-backed junta. Look for the same thing in Libya if the insurgents win.

it just criminalizes strikes and sit-ins that interrupt private or state owned businesses or affect the economy in any way and it's just active in the current Emergency Law
The current Emergency Law will end in September before the parliament elections
also while the government approved it, it's not passed yet and there were lots of protests and marches against it
OUNjahhryn: Yep there is a new temp Cabinet with a Prime Minister that actually came from Tahrir Square
and there is the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) which will be ruling for the next six months
It's going very well over here and I think Egypt deserve that
If your concerned you can check Al-Masry Al-Youm it's the best selling independent newspaper in Egypt

www.almasryalyoum.com...