Emergency Law Extended.

Emergency Law Extended. The NDP-dominated Parliament has approved the extension of theEmergency Law for two more years, amid protests from the opposition. Inasking for the house's approval, PM Ahmad Nazif on May 11 toldparliament: "Terrorism has been behind political assassinations,religious sectarianism and strikes aimed at foreign tourists". AsNazif spoke, independent and Islamist MPs wore ribbons of the Egyptianflag inscribed with the phrase "No to Emergency Law". The Emergency Law has been in force since 1981, giving massivepowers for security forces to detain suspects without trial. On May 11,Nazif pledged that the law will be enforced only to combat terrorism anddrug trafficking. He said the law would be cancelled in May 2012, whenan anti-terror legislation should be in place. He added: "We pledgebefore parliament that we will not adopt extra-judicial measures inapplying this [emergency] law and will debate the anti-terror law withthe (state-backed) National Council for Human Rights and the civilsociety groups". Opposition and human rights groups say the Emergency Law is abusedto muzzle freedom of expression and crack down on political dissent.Over recent years, the government has put on trial terror suspects atmilitary tribunals where defendants have no right to appeal rulings. Earlier on May 11, around 100 Islamists and independent MPs werejoined by political activists as they protested outside the parliamentin central Cairo against the prolongation of the Emergency Law. IslamistMP Sa'd al-Katatni then said: "The Emergency Law is a weaponto be used by the National Democratic Party during the nextparliamentary and presidential elections. The regime wants to againextend the state of emergency to suppress political foes".