CAIRO – ‘NO to the state of emergency', is the slogan under which the young revolutionaries are preparing for this Friday's demonstration, to express their opposition to the decision taken by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to activate the Emergency Law. The decision, taken following the attack on the Israeli Embassy and the Ministry of Interior last Friday, has been opposed by most political parties, along with the presidential hopefuls. By taking this decision, the SCAF was hoping to suspend the demonstrations on Fridays that sometimes end with clashes between the protesters and security men. Most parties, including the Islamists, have expressed their opposition to the decision and might join in this Friday's demonstration to force the SCAF to change its mind. Though the state of emergency has persisted for long decades now, the Egyptians were hoping that it would soon be lifted, so they can enjoy real liberty and democracy, without being hounded by security agencies. However, Assistant Minister of Defence and SCAF member General Mamdouh Shaheen recently stated that state of emergency will continue till June 2012, noting that what is going on in Egypt's streets now could be classified as terrorism. The Emergency Law can be used to try rioters and drug traffickers, and those who broadcast rumours, block roads and possess unlicensed weapons. Many analysts are concerned that this new decision could curb the freedom of the press, as no-one can precisely define what is true or false, because media men have limited access to sources of information, while a lack of transparency continues to characterise the work of the different State departments. As for the illegal blocking of roads and possession of weapons, other laws incriminate these things and could be used to try violators, without having to activate the Emergency Law. Many political activists and men of law are convinced that the SCAF's decision mainly targets the revolutionaries, curbing the gains of the January revolution.
