Egypt's House of Representatives has approved a one-year postponement in the implementation of the new criminal procedures law. The decision was made during a plenary session on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, under the chairmanship of Counselor Hisham Badawi. The law, which was initially set to take effect on October 1, 2026, will now come into force on October 1, 2027.
The postponement was proposed by MP Hisham Al-Hussari, a member of the parliament. The proposed law consists of two articles, with the first article replacing the phrase "October 1, 2027" with "October 1, following the date of its publication" in the sixth article of Law No. 174 of 2025. The second article stipulates that the law will be published in the Official Gazette and will take effect the day after its publication.
According to MP Al-Hussari, the new law aims to organize criminal procedures comprehensively, with new provisions that require completion of necessary preparations for its implementation. These preparations include regulatory, institutional, technical, and human requirements. The law's postponement was deemed necessary to allow sufficient time for these preparations, ensuring smooth implementation and achieving the desired objectives.
The preparations for the law's implementation involve several key aspects, including the completion of electronic systems for remote notification and litigation, database rules, and means of connection. Additionally, there is a need for digitalizing procedures and preparing and qualifying human cadres to apply the law. Coordination with various parties involved in the criminal lawsuit is also essential.
The law applies to the entire country, necessitating practical tests for new systems and procedures. This is crucial to identify any potential obstacles and ensure that all requirements are met before the law takes effect. The postponement aims to provide enough time to guarantee the readiness of the system and its elements to enforce the new provisions.
The new criminal procedures law is considered significant, and its postponement will provide the responsible parties with more time to ensure the system's readiness. This will enable them to fulfill the obligations outlined in the law, protect citizens' rights and freedoms, and ensure proper implementation.
The approved postponement will give the necessary time for completing the required preparations, allowing for a more effective and efficient implementation of the law. This, in turn, will help achieve the desired goals and ensure that the law serves its intended purpose.
Key points
- The Egyptian parliament has approved a one-year delay in implementing the new criminal procedures law, which will now take effect on October 1, 2027.
