CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ratified amendments to the country’s Emergency Law, granting the armed forces the power of judicial oversight across all governorates, which means the army now has the right to arrest and investigate with citizens before the military prosecution — powers previously limited to the country’s law enforcement officers (security forces) and the public prosecution.

The amendments, which were published in the Official Gazette May 7, also expanded Sisi’s prerogatives, including more decision-making powers such as suspending classes at schools and universities, postponing tax payments and amending official working hours across the country during the state of emergency.

Article 4 of the amended Emergency Law specifies that security or military forces will enforce the orders of the president of the republic or his representative. It continues, “If the armed forces assume this task, their officers and noncommissioned officers shall have the powers of the judicial police officers.”

The second part of the article states that the non-civil, military prosecution should be granted the power to carry out investigations. It continues, “The military prosecution shall be competent to investigate the facts and crimes reported by the armed forces.” Under this article, the amendments give Sisi the power to authorize the military prosecution to investigate crimes violating the Emergency Law.