Emergency law in Egypt

An emergency law was first enacted in Egypt in 1958, as Law No. 162 of 1958. A state of emergency was declared in 1967 during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War which lasted until 1980. After a break of 18 months, a state of emergency was reimposed following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981, and was repeatedly extended every three years. The continuous state of emergency was one of the grievances of demonstrators giving rise to the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.

After Hosni Mubarak was deposed, the emergency law expired on 31 May 2012 and with it the state of emergency, two weeks before the second round of voting in Egypt's 2012 presidential election. On 13 June 2012, the military government imposed de facto martial law (extending the arrest powers of security forces). The Justice Ministry issued a decree giving military officers authority to arrest civilians and try them in military courts. The provision remained in effect until a new constitution was introduced, and meant that those detained could remain in jail for that long according to state-run Egy News.

On 14 August 2013, the acting president of Egypt, Adly Mansour, declared a state of emergency for one month in response to the Rabaa massacre, which was further extended by another two months.

During a state of emergency, police powers are extended, constitutional rights are suspended, censorship is legalised and habeas corpus is abolished. It limits non-governmental political activity, including street demonstrations, unapproved political organizations and unregistered financial donations. It permits indefinite detention without trial and hearings of civilians by military courts, prohibits gatherings of more than five people, and limits speech and association.

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