Egypt to criminalise insulting Jan 25, June 30 uprisings

Ahram Online , Wednesday 3 Dec 2014

President El-Sisi says he plans to issue a decree that bans 'insulting' the January 25 uprising and June 30 mass protests

El-Sisi
Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, gestures during an interview with Reuters in Cairo May 14, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is to issue a presidential decree that "criminalises insulting the 25 January and 30 June uprisings."

The news was issued in a press release on Tuesday without providing more details.

The 25 January 2011 uprising ended the 30-year reign of autocrat Hosni Mubarak. 

The 30 June 2013 mass protests lead to the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

El-Sisi`s statement came after a court dropped charges of conspiracy to murder protesters against Hosni Mubarak, his interior minister Habib El-Adly and six security aides. 

Mubarak and business tycoon Hussein Salem were also acquitted of corruption charges. 

Many observers said the verdict was a sign Mubarak regime figures are regaining ground in Egyptian political life.

Critics said the media played a role in paving the way for the verdict by tainting the image of the January 25 uprising. 

In a meeting with young journalists on Tuesday, El-Sisi also said he would amend the criminal law in an attempt to fight corruption and preserve public money.

El-Sisi voiced support for a new political party that includes the youth and would “help them express their aspirations.”


 

 

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