MOI approves website for registering planned protests

Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim has approved a new online system that citizens can use to notify security officials of an upcoming general meeting or demonstration, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior via email on Monday.

Protest organizers can logon to the MOI website, www.moiegypt.gov.eg, free of charge to file the notification.

The system is being implemented in accordance with the controversial Protest Law, which was issued in November. The highly restrictive piece of legislation obliges organizers of demonstrations to give 24 hour prior notice to the nearest police station in advance of the event, and indicate the place of the protest, its goals and demands, its beginning and end time and the name and contact information of the organizers.

Since the Cabinet approved the law, hundreds of protesters and activists have been arrested for violating it by protesting without notifying the authorities in advance.

Activists Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma and Mohamed Adel were sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of a range of charges related to the law. Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah was also arrested for allegedly breaking the Protest Law and is still in custody pending investigations into the case.