Police fire water cannon to disperse Egypt rallies

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that the law raises concerns. “We urge the interim government to respect individual rights and we urge that the new constitution protect such rights,” she said.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also deplored the new law. They noted the vague grounds for denying permits for protests, including “threats to national security” or attempting to “influence the course of justice.”

The law will “will further entrench abuse” by police force, giving authorities free rein to use excessive force, including shotguns and rubber bullets against violators, Amnesty said.

“It is a dangerous sign that the first piece of legislation regulating rights and freedoms passed since the ousting of Mohamed Morsi curtails freedom of assembly and treats peaceful protesters like criminals,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa deputy director.

Human Rights Watch said the law will reverse the freedom to demonstrate which Egyptians seized with the 2011 uprising.

“Over the next nine months, Egypt will hold a referendum on the constitution, followed by parliamentary and presidential elections,” said HRW's deputy Middle East director, Joe Stork.

“The excessive notification requirements on election-related meetings will have a further chilling effect on freedom to campaign and on the pre-electoral environment.”