Spokesperson for the Egyptian interior ministry Hany Abdel Latif said late Wednesday that the numbers of detainees arrested under the widely criticised protest law are 301, whose trials are pending, state newsagency MENA reported.
Abdel Latif illustrated that since June 2013, the number of those detained on charges of protesting without legal permit was 2703 prisoners; however, officials have released 2402 of those individuals.
"Although Egypt is passing through a difficult time, the country is not using any exceptional measures during its fight against terrorism- on the contrary it has been using legal acts stipulated by the law," said Abdel Latif.
Many activists, among them members of the April 6 group who protested during the January 25 uprising which toppled long term autocrat Hosni Mubarak, are currently in jail on charges related to this law. Some of the most prominent activists currently in jail from the group are Mohamed Adel, Ahmed Douma and Ahmed Maher, along with renowned rights activist Alaa Abdel Fattah.
Also, hundreds of members from the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood have been reportedly detained over the much criticised law.
Egypt's protest law, which has been in effect since November 2013, stipulates that assembly organisers must notify the concerned security authorities with their plans at least three working days in advance.
The law also grants the ministry of interior the right to cancel, move or postpone assemblies.
