Sisi approves law granting immunity to military officers involved in Rabaa massacre

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday ratified a bill that could immunize senior military officers from future prosecution related to violence after the 2013 military coup.

The law, published in the official gazette Thursday, grants senior military officers selected by Sisi rewards including immunity from investigation for alleged offenses after the suspension of Egypt's former constitution in 3 July, 2013 until parliament assumed its duties on 10 January, 2016.

Former president Mohammed Morsi was ousted on 3 July, 2013.

Any legal action against the selected officers requires permission from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces under the new law. They are also privileged with "special immunities" like those granted to diplomats.

General-turned-president Sisi led the military's overthrow of Morsi, who hailed from the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, following mass protests against his rule.

Thousands of supporters of Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president, demonstrated for weeks in two Cairo squares following his ouster.

On 14 August, 2013, Egyptian security forces killed over 1,000 people at a pro-democracy sit-in at Cairo's Rabaa Square.

Hundreds more were killed in street clashes with police over several months after the 14 August carnage.

Global rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch say at least 40,000 people were arrested within the first year of Morsi's removal.

Hundreds more have been sentenced to death or lengthy jail terms after speedy mass trials, including Morsi and several leaders of his outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Sisi succeeded Morsi and was elected president with 96.9 percent of the vote in June 2014. He won a second four-year term in March with 97 percent of the vote.