New laws entrench military power – HRW

Egyptian authorities have issued new laws that will entrench and widen the already broad powers of the military over civilian life in a manner that undermines rights. That’s according to Human Rights Watch (HRW) which said they grant sweeping new authority for the military to fully or partially replace certain functions of the police, civilian judiciary, and other civilian authorities and further expand the jurisdiction of military courts to prosecute civilians. The legislation includes Law No 3 of 2024 on Guarding and Protecting the State's Public and Vital Facilities and Buildings, which was published in the Official Gazette on 4 February. Parliament also approved numerous amendments to Law No 25 of 1966 on the Military Code of Justice that are expected to be published in the Official Gazette soon. ‘Entrenching the military's domination over civilian life is a strategy to contain increasing discontent over the Egyptian Government's dismal failures to uphold and ensure basic economic and political rights,’ said HRW researcher Amr Magdi. He added that Egypt's financial crisis will not be solved by railroading increasing numbers of Egyptians ‘through patently unfair military trials and locking them away’.

Egypt is facing a soaring fiscal crisis and skyrocketing food prices on top of multi-year economic downturn. HRW notes that President al-Sisi's Government has consistently responded to dissent and criticism by harassing and jailing critics of its political and economic choices that have led to rising poverty and unprecedented foreign debt as well as those who have criticised the rapid expansion of opaque, giant military-owned businesses.