The Egyptian parliament has approved a draft law to delay the implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Law by one year, moving the effective start date to October 1, 2027. This decision was made during an emergency plenary session chaired by Counselor Hisham Badawy. The delay aims to grant competent authorities additional time to complete the necessary organisational, institutional, technical, and human requirements for the new legislation.
The draft law was approved after extensive discussions regarding the reasons for requesting the delay and whether the relevant authorities had completed the necessary preparations. The new law, Law No. 174 of 2025, requires the completion of electronic systems for notifications and remote litigation, finalising databases, and establishing electronic links between various entities. These preparations are crucial to ensure the readiness of all parties within the criminal justice system before the law is applied nationwide.
The extended timeframe will also cover the completion of procedures to digitise the litigation and criminal procedure systems. This includes training and qualifying the human cadres responsible for applying the new law, alongside coordinating between the various entities involved in criminal proceedings to standardise work mechanisms and prepare for the legislative changes. The explanatory note to the draft law stated that applying the Criminal Procedure Law represents an integrated system extending across the republic.
The new law necessitates practical testing of the newly introduced systems and procedures, as well as monitoring and addressing any obstacles that may arise during the preparation and trial operation phases prior to actual implementation. The approved draft law replaces the phrase “the first of October following the date of its publication” in Article 6 of Law No. 174 of 2025 with the phrase “the first of October 2027”.
Article 2 of the draft law stipulates that it will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into effect on the day following its publication date, with its provisions implemented as state law. The delay was granted to ensure that all parties involved are adequately prepared for the implementation of the new law. This includes the completion of digital and institutional preparations to support the new legislation.
The implementation of the Criminal Procedure Law is a significant development in Egypt's criminal justice system. The law aims to modernise and streamline the country's criminal procedures, ensuring that they are more efficient and effective. The delay will provide the necessary time for the authorities to complete the required preparations and ensure a smooth transition to the new system.
The Egyptian parliament's decision to delay the implementation of the Criminal Procedure Law reflects the government's commitment to ensuring that the new law is implemented effectively. The delay will provide the necessary time for the authorities to complete the required preparations, including digital and institutional preparations, to support the new legislation.
Key points
- The Egyptian parliament has postponed the implementation of the Criminal Procedure Law to October 1, 2027.
- The delay aims to grant competent authorities additional time to complete the necessary organisational, institutional, technical, and human requirements for the new legislation.
- The new law requires the completion of electronic systems for notifications and remote litigation, finalising databases, and establishing electronic links between various entities.
