Egypt braces for 'Cleansing Friday' rally

The 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition has urged Egyptians to join Friday protest against a new law that criminalizes protests and strikes.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171537.html

A major Egyptian youth movement has called on fellow citizens to participate in a protest on Friday against a new law that prohibits demonstrations and strikes.

The 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition, which led the 18-day revolution against the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said "The Friday of Cleansing" protest will be held outside the Egyptian Radio and Television Union in Cairo to urge the government to repeal the ban on public protests and strikes, the Al-Masry Al-Youm daily reported on Thursday.

The Egyptian Cabinet on Wednesday ordered a law criminalizing protests and strikes, according to which anyone inciting, organizing, promoting, or calling for a protest will be sentenced to jail or be fined for LE500,000 ($84,000).

The new law, which has not yet been approved by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is "a serious indicator of a political direction that will act as a barrier against any real democracy, which the people have the right to practice,” the movement said in a statement.

This is "an unacceptable and unjustified setback to the revolution's achievements, while at the same time, some of the labor protesters should have given the government a chance to meet their demands in light of the difficult economic situation now facing the country," the statement added.

The coalition also stated that protesters on Friday will demand the resignation of all officials loyal to the former regime and express their solidarity with assaulted students in Cairo University, who attempted to stage a sit-in on Wednesday to call for the resignation of the dean of the university.

On Sunday, Egyptians overwhelmingly voted in favor of constitutional amendments in a historic referendum weeks after Mubarak handed over power to Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

The military council has promised a swift transition to civilian rule, however, critics have taken a less sanguine view of the promise, saying that demonstrations will continue until all their demands are met.

They say all political prisoners must be released and an investigation launched into the conduct of officials responsible for the violence used against civilians.

Religion-based parties banned in Egypt

Egypt's Shura Council approves foundation of non-religion-based political parties by notification. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171431.html

Egypt's ruling junta has approved a constitutional amendment which prevents the establishment of political parties based on religion and discrimination between citizens on grounds of origin, language or gender.

The amendment to Law 40 of 1977, which regulates the establishment of political parties, allows them to be founded by notification, reported the Egyptian Al-Masry Al-Youm on Wednesday.

A notification of establishment of a party that is signed by 1,000 founding members needs to be presented to the upper house of Egypt's parliament, Shura Council's Political Parties Affairs Committee (PAC).

The party can begin political activities provided that it receives no objection from PAC.

The new party's founders must then, at their own expense, publish their names in two broadly circulated daily newspapers within eight days of submitting the notification.

Under the new law, the establishment of political parties based on religious or geographical grounds, or discrimination between citizens on grounds of sex, origin, language, religion or creed is forbidden.

The new law also prohibits political parties with foreign affiliations from being founded, and it bans donations of any kind from foreign persons. It says parties can be self-funded through non-commercial activities under the condition that their main goal is to serve the principles of the party.

The regime of the ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak used to control the establishment of parties through PAC, which prevented parties from exercising political activities.

On February 11, Mubarak was forced to step down following nationwide protests that demanded an end to his longtime rule.

Around 300 people have reportedly lost their lives during the clashes with the Egyptian security forces, while many others have also been wounded as a result of the government's crackdown on anti-government protesters.