- Title: Egypt's parliament declares state of emergency
- Date: 11th April 2017
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (APRIL 11, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN CAIRO FLAG FLYING AT HALF-MAST DURING THREE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR PALM SUNDAY ATTACKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PARLIAMENTARIAN, AHMED HUSSEIN AL-KHASHAB, SAYING: "It's come too late, we should have implemented it before, we shouldn't have waited till now because we could have stopped all these terrorist attacks and security forces could have acted to prevent what had happened. So we are in need of it, we support and approve it, and it won't affect any good person in the country. It was made against terrorism and against terrorist groups here and in Sinai. It will help keeping control and protecting the state, its institutions, and places of worship." PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STREET IN DOWNTOWN CAIRO VARIOUS OF CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN CAIRO (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PARLIAMENTARIAN, MOHAMED MOSTAFA SELIM, SAYING: "It will no doubt be useful in security operations. When it was implemented long time ago, the security situation was better than it is now, not just regarding terrorism, but also theft. Ever since criminals have become aware that the emergency law was no longer in effect, crime has increased, so this law will help combating terrorism and internally improving the security situation." EXTERIOR OF PARLIAMENT BUILDING
- Embargoed: 25th April 2017 17:30
- Keywords: Egypt emergency law parliament Cairo
- Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
- City: CAIRO, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BYHVLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Egypt's parliament on Tuesday (April 11) unanimously approved a three-month state of emergency, broadening the power of authorities to crack down on what it called enemies of the state days after two church bombings killed at least 45.
The countrywide state of emergency, which will give the security forces wide-ranging powers, was declared by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after Palm Sunday (April 9) attacks but required parliamentary approval according to the constitution.
Two suicide bombings claimed by Islamic State at churches in Alexandria and Tanta plunged the nation into mourning and sent shockwaves through a Coptic Christian community that has increasingly been targeted by militants .
The law's return raises fears among some Egyptians, who see it as a formal return to the pre-2011 police state, at a time when rights activists say they already face the worst crackdown in their history.
The Arab Network for Human Rights Information said the law would not achieve security and was intended to "further suppress freedom of opinion, expression and belief, and to crack down on human rights defenders". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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