The petition
Eventually a new anti-terror law will be presented to the Egyptian legislative authorities, represented by the People and Al-Shoura Assemblies. It is supposed to replace the martial emergency law that has been ruling Egypt continuously for more than 25 years. A few people know the content of this law, and it is expected to emerge from nowhere, shortly before its implementation.
This law is a part of a worldwide campaign against terrorism, that has been initiated by the United States. However, despite all oppositions to the U.S. version, it is directed against foreigners, whereas here it will be directed against us.
The definition of what constitutes a terrorist act is so broad and vague that it can be used to curtail legitimate acts of protest. In the eyes of our regime, we, the citizens, are the terrorists.
The anti-terror law represents a enormous threat to human rights and a breaching of the constitutional provisions established to confront the horrors of the martial emergency law. Decision-making will be left entirely to the Security authorities whose job is to ensure the implementation of this law. There will be no judicial supervision except after the arrest.
To enumerate how the law tramples on basic constitutional rights: “It authorizes preventive detention, expands the power of warrant less arrest, and allows for unchecked invasion of privacy, liberty and other basic rights. Persons merely suspected of engaging in terrorism may be arrested without warrant and detained without charges.”
Accordingly, we, the undersigned, are warning that legislating this law after the constitutional changes that took place on the 26th of March, 2007, especially bill number 179 will threaten individual freedom as stated in the Egyptian constitution as well as the guarantees provided by the law to protect individuals during judicial procedures.
We demand that everyone who is anxious about the consequences of this law and who is worried about the violations of human rights and individual freedom and safety in Egypt to declare their banning of this law.
We hope that Amnesty International will help us spread the word and to introduce this petition to the concerned authorities in Egypt
Sign the petition
Fields marked * are required.