CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has ratified a bill that could immunize selected senior military officers from future prosecution related to violence following the 2013 overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president.

The law, published in the official gazette Thursday, grants senior military officers rewards including immunity from investigation for alleged offenses committed since the suspension of Egypt's former constitution on July 3, 2013 until parliament assumed its duties. Parliament, elected in 2015, first convened on Jan. 10, 2016.

Any legal action against the selected officers requires permission from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces under the law.

The officers are also privileged with "special immunities" such as those granted to diplomats when traveling abroad.