Egypt's cabinet has amended a draft counter- terrorism law so that
journalists would be fined, rather than jailed, for contradicting the
authorities' version of any terrorist attack, local news agency
reported.
The bill, which sets up new courts for terrorism trials, was proposed
after Egypt's top prosecutor died in a car bombing and 17 members of
the security forces were killed by Islamist insurgents in Sinai.
It has been condemned by rights groups, with Amnesty International
saying it would grant President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi 'absolute powers'
to crush dissent.
One provision of the bill would have made it a criminal offence for
journalists or others to report on terrorist attacks in a way that
contradicted the official version of events, with jail terms of two
years.
The cabinet spokesman told newsmen that the article had been amended
to replace the jail time with a fine of 200,000-500,000 Egyptian
pounds.
Human rights groups have accused Egyptian authorities of widespread
violations since the army toppled Islamist President, Mohamed Morsi,
in 2013 after mass protests against his rule.
According to the government, it is protecting the country from
Islamists, including Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and militants
associated with IS, active in North Sinai, both of which it classifies
as terrorist groups.
Rights groups say Egyptian prisons hold 40,000 political detainees.
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