Egypt's President Sisi ends state of emergency for the first time in years
Reuters
Published Oct 25, 2021 02:20PM ET
Updated Oct 25, 2021 08:01PM ET
(Refile to correct spelling of Egyptian activist's last name in final paragraph)
CAIRO (Reuters) -Egypt's state of emergency will be lifted for the first time in years, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday.
Egypt imposed a state of emergency in April 2017 after deadly bombings of churches and has since routinely extended it
at three-month intervals, despite an improved security situation.
"Egypt has become ... an oasis of security and stability in the region," Sisi wrote in a Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) post. "Hence it was decided, for the first time in years, to cancel the extension of the state of emergency in all areas of the country."
The state of emergency granted authorities sweeping powers to make arrests and crack down on what they call enemies of the state.
It was applied during the extension of a clamp-down on political dissent under Sisi that has swept up liberal as well as Islamist critics over the past few years.
Egypt's security forces have also been battling an insurgency by militants linked to Islamic State in northern Sinai, although they have recently consolidated their position in the area.
Prominent Egyptian activist Hossam Bahgat welcomed the decision, saying it would stop the use of emergency state security courts, although it would not apply to some high-profile cases already referred to such courts.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.