In a move welcomed by more than 20 human rights organizations, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi rejected the draft Criminal Code, a document that had drawn considerable criticism from both local and international observers. The decision was largely influenced by Article 242, which would prevent final rulings in criminal cases from being appealed. President Sisi articulated that this provision clashes with the principles of justice and various international human rights standards. Following his decision, the Egyptian House of Representatives announced an urgent session to address the President’s concerns in early October.
The proposed Criminal Code had been under fire since its approval by the House of Representatives in August 2024. Prominent organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Commission of Jurists had urged Egypt’s parliament to reconsider the draft, highlighting numerous human rights violations embedded in its current form. These groups underscored that the Code exhibited a disregard for fundamental human rights, a sentiment echoed in their joint statement condemning the draft.
Criticism intensified with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights, which emphasized that the draft would severely undermine the rule of law by permitting invasive privacy violations. The United Nations Human Rights Office also raised transparency concerns about the review and approval process undertaken by Egyptian lawmakers.
According to an official Egyptian press release, numerous appeals were made to President Sisi against the Code’s implications, particularly regarding judicial practices and fair trial guarantees. Among the issues were restrictions on access to legal files, denial of legal representation, and violations of the right to a public trial. Another contentious point was the continuation of immunity for police officers, which precludes individuals from filing charges against them, including in cases of torture. The Code also proposed allowing prosecutors to extend pre-trial detention without judicial approval through methods deemed unjust by human rights groups.
Despite these issues, the draft Code included provisions aimed at targeting corruption, incorporating recommendations on torture and pre-trial detention discussed during the 2023 National Dialogue in Egypt. As the Code reverts to parliament for revision, human rights groups remain cautiously optimistic about the potential for systemic legal reform and greater alignment with international human rights standards.