Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court has set 1 October to hear suits filed against the country's controversial protest law, which bans all but police-sanctioned street demonstrations.

The hearing will look at two lawsuits challenging the legislation, a statement by the court said on Tuesday. The two cases were filed by rights lawyer Khaled Ali and lawyer Ali Ayoub.

The suits are challenging articles in the bill requiring prior notification for protests and granting police the right to ban or postpone a protest if they deem it a “threat to security and peace,” as well as punishing violators by jail terms of at least one year and a minimum fine of EGP 50,000.

Issued in late 2014, the protest law has led to the imprisonment of thousands of youth activists, as well as secular and Islamist protesters alike. It has been widely criticised by local and international rights groups.