
Egyptian Parliament Approves New Criminal Procedures Law After 24 Sessions of Deliberation
New protections take their shape
Rights secured by law
The Egyptian Parliament has approved a comprehensive overhaul of the country's criminal procedures law after 24 general sessions of detailed discussions, marking a significant update to the nation's judicial system [1][2].
The new law, which aligns with Egypt's 2014 Constitution and National Human Rights Strategy, introduces several key reforms to strengthen civil rights protections and modernize judicial procedures [1][3]:
Mandatory legal representation for defendants during both investigation and trial phasesCompensation provisions for wrongful preventive detentionIntroduction of remote investigation and trial procedures with constitutional safeguardsEnhanced protections for victims, witnesses, defendants, and whistleblowersReplacement of physical coercion with community service for certain financial penalties"This historic achievement directly impacts individual rights and freedoms," stated Parliamentary Speaker Dr. Hanafi Gebali, emphasizing the law's importance both domestically and internationally [2][3].
The Egyptian Bar Association praised parliament's inclusive approach, noting their involvement throughout the legislative process. The Minister of Justice described the law as "a true embodiment of our new republic through the establishment of a fair judicial system" [1][4].
The parliament also began preliminary discussions on a new labor law, which aims to modernize worker protections while maintaining balance between employee rights and business interests [2][3].