Egypt's Sisi says new anti-terror bill not meant to limit freedoms

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Tuesday that the new anti-terrorism draft law is not meant to oppress the people or limit freedoms, the state TV reported.

"The state must be protected in its great challenge, as we want to succeed and survive while they do not want this for us," Sisi told the attendees during a fast-breaking ceremony, referring to terrorists who have been launching deadly attacks since the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in mid-2013.

The new anti-terrorism draft law recently approved by the Egyptian cabinet has raised debate in the most populous Arab country as well as concerns about freedoms and human rights.

It seeks to imprison whoever releases news differing from the official statements about terrorist activities and gives the liberty to the police to use force against suspects if they feel danger.

The draft law has been initiated after the assassination of the country's top prosecutor by a car bomb in late June and the following bloody terrorist attacks on several checkpoints in North Sinai province in early July, which left 17 military men killed, while the military raids on militants in the peninsula killed about 250 since then.

Some defend the new draft law as necessary for the national security and the country's exceptional "war against terrorism," where as others believe the bill represents violation of the new constitution and contradiction with the standards of free press.

"Egypt's constitution is so ambitious and wonderful, but we need more time to achieve more effectiveness," the Egyptian President said, adding that the country is going through difficult circumstances and massive challenges.

Sisi temporarily has the legislative authority due to the lack of parliament whose elections is expected to be held later this year.

Sisi continued that he neither twists the law or uses it as a tool, stressing that "terrorism has neither religion nor homeland." Endit