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EOHR Challenges the Minister Of Interiors' Decision to Ban demonstrations
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22/5/2006
On 23rd May 2006, the Administrative Judiciary Court will be viewing the challenge presented by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights versus the Minister of Interiors to cancel his decision issued on 17th May 2006, which bans any peaceful assembly and demonstrations in front of the Supreme Judiciary House without a permission, and any assembly will be considered a crime against law which is subjected to punishment.
Within the text of its lawsuit, EOHR emphasized that the decision of the Minister of Interiors was legally based on Law 10/1914 (Assembly Law) which was issued on 18th October 1914. Law 10/1914 has an exceptional nature in itself, due to the historical circumstances in the time of its issuance, as stated in the clarification note of the Law that it was issued to encounter the conditions associated with World War I. Law 10/1914 is an exceptional law close to marshal laws, and as an evidence to its exceptional nature; this law was presented to the Peoples Assembly on 27th December 1927 and with majority of votes this Law was canceled, but this decision never passed due to the dissolution of the parliament at that time.
EOHR stated in its lawsuit that the challenged decision contradicts with the Egyptian Constitution, which stipulated in its Article 47 and 54 the right of citizens to express their opinion and their right to peaceful assembly.
This decision also contradicts with many international human rights documents ratified by Egypt and it is binding to the Egyptian Government according to Article 151 of the Egyptian Constitution. According to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; citizens have the right to express their opinions with all means without interference.
The lawsuit was concluded in demanding an instant verdict to cancel the challenged decision which requires a permission for any peaceful assembly.
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