Supreme Constitutional Court Schedules First Hearing to Challenge Constitutionality of Protest Act

The Supreme Constitutional Court scheduled Dec. 14 for the first appeal hearing against the constitutionality of Protest Law.

The lawsuit filed by the Rule of Law Support Center and the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights against the President, the Minister of the Interior, and others for withholding permission to a peaceful demonstration against the high cost of living. A prior notice has been filed by the lawyer Tariq Al Awadhi, but the Interior Ministry refused to permit it, contrary to the Protest Act, which allows peaceful demonstrations by notification.

The court hearing comes amidst a barrage of criticism against the Protest Act passed by the former interim President Adly Mansour in November 2013. In the aftermath of passing it, thousands of peaceful protesters were arrested. In the process, defense lawyers exposed the flagrant abuses of the Interior Ministry and its personnel in applying this notorious Act and its provisions which themselves violate the 2014 Constitution.

The first hearing before the Supreme Constitutional Court was scheduled after the Administrative Court allowed the Egyptian Center to appeal against the constitutionality of the Act.

It is worth mentioning that this court hearing was held simultaneously with the other constitutional appeal filed by the Egyptian Center against the Investment Law No. 32.