Coronavirus: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi gets expanded powers to deal with outbreak

Emergency law amendments allow president to ban all gatherings and to offer financial support

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi approved amendments to the country's emergency laws on May 9, 2020. AP Photo

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Saturday approved amendments to the country's state of emergency that grant him and security agencies additional powers, which the government says are needed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The new amendments allow the president to take measures to contain the virus, such as suspending classes at schools and universities and quarantining those returning from abroad. They also include expanded powers to ban public and private meetings, protests, celebrations and other forms of assembly.

The amended law would also allow the president to postpone taxes and utility payments as well as provide economic support for affected sectors.

Egypt, with a population of 100 million, has reported at least 504 deaths out of about 8,500 confirmed cases.

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Coronavirus in the Middle East

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The amendments also allow military prosecutors to investigate incidents when army officers are tasked with law enforcement or when the president orders it. The country's chief civilian prosecutor would have the final decision on whether to bring matters to trial.

Parliament approved the amendments last month.

Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April 2017, and the government extended it late last month for another three months. The law was originally passed to give the president broader powers to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

The government said the amendments were needed to address a legal “vacuum” revealed by the coronavirus outbreak.

In response the pandemic, Egypt has halted international air travel and shut down schools, universities, mosques, churches and archaeological sites, including the famed Giza pyramids. A curfew is in place from 9pm to 6am. The partial lockdown is to continue for another two weeks, until the end of Ramadan.