Adly amends law on defaming president

Interim President Adly Mansour issued a decree on Monday amending a contentious law on insulting the president, removing jail time for the offense while still keeping a fine of between LE10,000 and LE30,000.

The same decree restructured the National Council for Human Rights, allowing the Cabinet to appoint its members until a new parliament is elected. The move comes in the wake of former council head Hossam al-Gheriany's resignation, and other members’ “special circumstances."

Several of the council’s members belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, and had been appointed to their positions under deposed President Mohamed Morsi.

The council would operate in the transitional period until a new constitution is drafted and ratified and a new parliament is elected.

Mansour’s decree also amended laws pertaining to regulating journalism, allowing him to issue a decision to form the Supreme Press Council. The law gives the Supreme Press Council all authorities pertaining to journalism and journalists.

The Council would be comprised of 15 members, including a syndicate head, two former syndicate heads elected by the syndicate itself, two journalism professors elected by the Supreme Council of Universities, two law professors and other prominent figures.

Last month, the Cabinet approved the three aforementioned laws in its first meeting, referring them to the State Council, which adjusted their legal wording before sending them to the president.