Military trials in Egypt undermine civil law
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a new law, whereby the perpetrators of assaults against public and government facilities shall be referred to military courts.
CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi enacted a law on Oct. 27 to enhance sanctions against those who vandalize public and government facilities. The law states that the police shall protect public facilities and refer assaulting parties to the military public prosecution as a preliminary step for their referral before the military courts. This law will go into effect for two years.
In the last two months, Egypt has witnessed repeated assaults on public facilities, including a roadside bomb incident near the Foreign Ministry, an explosion in downtown Cairo a few meters away from metro stations, and an explosion in the vicinity of Cairo University. However, the law was issued immediately after the Sheikh Zuweid bombing, which killed dozens of members of the armed forces on Oct. 24.
