Today, September 30, according to the Egyptian constitution the emergency law - in force for 53 years - should end. The law allows Egypt's interim government - the Supreme Council of Armed Forces - to restrict the freedom of assembly and the freedom of media. In order to maintain order, the emergency law also enables the armed forces to arrest people and detain and sentence them in military courts. According to human rights organisations, since the revolution began on January 25, approximately 12.000 people have already been sentenced by military courts, with blogger Michael Nabil as the most well-known case. Newspapers have been censured, publication blocked and some shut down. Yesterday, for the second time in a few days, the office of Al Jazeera live Egypt has been closed by police forces.

Guy Verhofstadt: “It might have been necessary to maintain the emergency law for some time in order to avoid chaos after the revolution. However, now it is time to lift the law. Free and democratic elections are not possible as long as there is no freedom of assembly and freedom of media. In a free and democratic country, harassing media and closing down media offices is unacceptable".

Edward McMillan-Scott: "Despite Mubarak's rule, Egypt has been praised for its independent judicial system. The massive use of military courts, without the possibility of proper defence, is destroying this image. In a democracy people have the right of independent, civil courts and of a proper defence. We urge the interim government to release Michael Nabil, who is on the 37th day of hunger strike."