US: Egypt's new anti-terror law may impact human rights

The US is concerned that some measures in Egypt’s new anti-terrorism law might hurt fundamental freedoms and human rights, a US State Department spokesman said in a briefing Tuesday.

Regarding the ratification of a new anti-terrorism law in Egypt, spokesman John Kirby said that this new law could “have a significant detrimental impact on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including due process safeguards, freedom of association, and freedom of expression”.

Egypt’s new anti-terrorism law punishes anyone found guilty of forming or leading an alleged terrorist group with death. Financing a “terrorist group” may carry a life sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

The law also slaps those found guilty of inciting violence or creating a website deemed to spread “terrorist messages” with jail terms ranging between five to seven years.

Under the law, trials for suspected militants will be fast-tracked through special courts and anyone found guilty of joining a militant group could face 10 years in prison in Egypt.

Approved by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi last Sunday, the law is criticised by the Egyptian people for restricting freedom of opinion and the press.

The State Department, however, added that the US would continue to stand by Egypt “in its fight against terrorism,” Kirby said, recalling that US Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit to the Egyptian capital of Cairo said that defeating terrorism required “a long-term, comprehensive strategy” to build trust between the Egyptian people and the authorities.