Security courts power curbed in Egypt July 1, 2003 CAIRO - A new law curbing the powers of the much-criticized state security courts in Egypt took effect Monday, court sources said. The law, unanimously adopted by parliament on June 16, limits the jurisdiction of these courts to domestic security, terrorism and drugs, the sources added. "Defendants (in such cases) will be sent to state security courts under the emergency law," which has been in place since president Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamic militants in 1981, a court source said. These courts previously also dealt with civilian criminal and, more recently, controversial gay sex matters. Lawyers said such cases would from now on be referred to regular courts. Legislators at the same time adopted a law setting up a National Council for Human Rights, said the source. The two bills were submitted in late May by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of President Hosni Mubarak. Analysts said the NDP bills were aimed at initiating a debate on parliament's recent decision to extend emergency laws by three years. The emergency laws grant authorities extensive powers to detain people deemed a threat to national security for 45-day renewable periods without charge. Human rights groups in Egypt and abroad have long criticized the laws and alleged widespread police brutality. The emergency laws also ban most public demonstrations. - Sapa-AFP