File photo: Huge crowds protest in Egypt (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt's constitutional committee has agreed that article 53 concerning the right to protest will only require that event organisers provide 'notification' before protests take place, the committee's Twitter account stated on Thursday.
This is in contrast to a protest law under debate within the cabinet, which would require official authorisation for every protest.
The cabinet's protest law, drafted by the justice ministry in October, sparked outrage among the country's political groups, who condemned the right given to the interior minister and senior police officials to cancel, postpone or change the location of a protest.
Earlier on Thursday, committee spokesman Mohamed Salmawy told reporters that committee members largely agreed that protests should require prior notification, but not official authorisation, from the relevant authorities, Al-Ahram's Arabic website reported.
Further details regarding the right to protest will be decided by law, sources told Al-Ahram.
Protest law controversy
The controversial protest law was approved by the cabinet earlier in October before being sent to Interim President Adly Mansour for ratification. Several political forces have unanimously condemned the bill, arguing that it infringed on Egyptian citizens' basic rights and freedoms.
The draft law is comprised of 21 articles, the most controversial of which are Articles 6, 10 and 14.
Article 6 states that a written appeal should be handed to the local police station 24 hours before any scheduled protest. The appeal must include the protest's location and purpose, the name and contact information of its organisers, as well as its demands and the proposed start and end time.
Article 10 gives the interior minister or senior police officials the authority to cancel, postpone or change the location of a protest, although protesters can seek emergency judicial intervention against such decisions.
Article 14 states that provincial governors have the power to designate "protest-free" areas of 50 to 100 metres around state and governmental premises, including presidential palaces, headquarters of legislative authorities and the cabinet.
Responding to growing criticism, Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi said that the draft law could be amended after dialogue with political groups and parties before being officially approved by Interim President Mansour.
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