After Al-Wahat shoot-out, Egypt declares state of emergency

The General Committee for the House of Representatives, headed by Dr. Ali Abdel-Al, has approved Al-Sisi’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Egypt for three months.

The Egyptian Prime Minister, Sherif Ismail, presented a statement to the House of Representatives’ plenary session regarding the President’s decision to declare a state of emergency in the country for three months.

“I hereby inform you of a presidential decision to declare a state of emergency in the country in accordance with the constitution for your kind approval. The government undertakes not to use these extraordinary measures except in the narrowest scope possible while protecting the freedoms and rights of citizens,” he said.

At least 54 police officers and conscripts were killed when Egyptian on Friday when Egyptian security forces raided Al-Wahat Al-Bahriya in Giza in what they have described as a militant hideout.

Read more: Death toll from Egypt gun battle rises to 52 killed

Egyptian security forces are battling against Daesh in Sinai but they have also used the war on terror there to justify killing and arresting civilians.

Al-Sisi has implemented the state of emergency a number of times under his presidency, including after the Palm Sunday bombings in April this year. Analysts have criticised the measure as a way to further squeeze freedoms in the country.