CAIRO — The Egyptian parliament on Tuesday extended the nation’s emergency law, limiting its scope but drawing condemnation from dissidents and human-rights groups who claim the legislation will not stop police from arresting opposition leaders and democracy activists.
Parliament approved the law while opponents protested outside amid rows of riot police. The government sought to defuse criticism by stressing that the measure would cover only terrorism and drug-related crimes. But critics accused authorities of making cosmetic changes to a 29-year-old system that gives police sweeping discretionary powers against political opponents.
Extending the emergency law, which was passed in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat, comes as the government is under widespread pressure. Public anger is high, protests over low wages and constitutional reform are increasing, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei is enlivening the opposition with his new National Front for Change.
President Hosni Mubarak, 82 and in frail health, has yet to strike the right tone or inspire policies to calm the furor. Renewing the emergency law, but narrowing its powers, allows the ruling National Democratic Party to claim support for press freedoms and human rights while simultaneously keeping mechanisms in place to combat dissent ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections.
“We do not deny that we still have issues, but we are working to resolve them,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moufid Shehab, acknowledging violations of civil liberties under the emergency law. “We aspire to one day have an end to emergency law.”
Shehab said the two-year extension, which passed by a wide majority, was needed to counter terrorism. He suggested that cases against bloggers and activists who have been jailed in recent years under the act for non-terror-related crimes may be reviewed.
The extension also will prohibit security forces from shutting newspapers and confiscating property. But security forces can still rely on an array of other laws to silence critics.
