BRUSSELS: The European Union on Wednesday urged comprehensive new rights legislation in Egypt in the wake of the revision of a decades-old emergency law that was extended for two years.
"I note Egypt’s decision to limit the new state of emergency to fighting terrorism and its financing and drug-related crimes," said European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton in a statement.
"However, I strongly encourage the government to speed up the steps needed for the adoption of an anti-terrorism law compliant with international human rights standards as soon as possible," she underlined.
The controversial law, which gives police wide powers of arrest, suspends constitutional rights and curbs non-governmental political activity, was backed by a majority of MPs, affiliated with the ruling National Democratic Part, in Egypt’s 454-member parliament.
Cairo has criticized "disappointed" US reaction to the revision as "too politicized," saying it failed to recognize the law’s positive aspects.
The state of emergency was imposed in 1981 after the assassination by Islamists of President Anwar Sadat and has been repeatedly renewed since then.
