Amnesty International has criticized President Mohamed Morsy's decision granting the army the power to arrest civilians. Morsy issued the decision Sunday, saying it was necessary to assist the police in ensuring security for the controversial referendum on the draft constitution slated for 15 December. The draft constitution is bitterly opposed by secular powers. The organization, in a report on Monday, called the new decree “a dangerous loophole which may well lead to the military trial of civilians.” “Considering the track record of the army while they were in charge, with more than 120 protesters killed and in excess of 12,000 civilians unfairly tried before military courts, this sets a dangerous precedent,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International. Last June, former Justice Minister Adel Abdel Hamid issued a decree giving military intelligence and officers the power to arrest civilians. Rights activists at that time said the decree threatened the rights of civilians. Later in the same month, the Administrative Court struck down the decree.
