Cairo, May 01: Amnesty International has slammed Egypt’s ruling junta over a law which bans protests, urging Egyptian authorities to immediately revoke the law.
In a statement published on its website on Saturday, the organization said Egyptian authorities should make use of the historic moment following the January 25 revolution to introduce reforms and show commitment to the protection of labor rights, Egyptian daily al-Masry al-Youm reported.
The legislation states that those convicted of breaking it could be jailed for up to a year.
The human rights group says the law violates Article 8 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which Egypt has signed.
The ban, which comes at a time when people are demanding their rights, is a “major setback,” the statement said.
Amnesty International also called for the protection of labor rights and the removal of restrictions on the formation of trade unions.
An Egyptian government’s fact-finding commission report states that 846 people have been killed and more than 6,400 others injured during Egypt’s historic revolution.
Ousted President Hosni Mubarak is currently under detention for an investigation into the crackdown on protesters during 18 days of anti-regime rallies that toppled him on February 11.
——–Agencies