( CNN ) -- Egypt 's emergency law -- which was in place for more than 30 years -- has been lifted , a spokesman for the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said Thursday . The unpopular and wide-ranging law became a focal point for demonstrations demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak more than a year ago . The emergency law gave authorities broad leeway to arrest citizens and hold them indefinitely without charges , according to Human Rights Watch . It was first enacted in 1958 . Although it was suspended during the rule of President Anwar Sadat , it had been in place since Mubarak took power in 1981 , according to the group . Abolishing the emergency law was on top of the lists of demands announced by pro-democracy protesters during the 2011 uprising . The law was partially suspended by the country 's military rulers early this year , but critics said that move did n't go far enough . Human Rights Watch urged Egypt 's new parliament to act Wednesday , saying it had `` an opportunity to close an abusive chapter in Egypt 's history '' by ending all measures related to the law when its current extension expired Thursday . `` The Egyptian parliament should make sure that this state of emergency , a hallmark of Hosni Mubarak 's abusive police state , has no future , '' Joe Stork , deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch , said in an online statement . `` Parliament should also initiate a comprehensive investigation into human rights violations that flourished under the emergency law , and the public prosecutor should make sure that the key people responsible for systematic torture and enforced disappearance are prosecuted . '' The rights group quotes the Muslim Brotherhood 's presidential candidate , Mohamed Morsi , as saying Tuesday : `` There is no going back to the state of emergency , we do not need the state of emergency ... the existing laws are sufficient . '' Morsi is one of two candidates who made it through a first round of voting this month . He will face former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik in a June 16-17 runoff vote . The head of Egypt 's ruling military council , Hussein Tantawi , announced the partial suspension of the emergency law in January . But opposition figures said the suspension was simply a sop to appease protesters . The suspension did not include crimes by `` thugs '' who commit acts of violence against citizens or use weapons to destroy public and government property , officials said . Journalist Mohammed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report .
Egypt : Human Rights Watch urges an investigation into crimes committed under the law . The emergency law was a focal point for anti - Mubarak demonstrators . It was first enacted in 1975 , but repealed during Sadat 's rule . The unpopular law returned after Mubarak took power in 1981 .