By POMED
The Egyptian Parliament is considering a bill to crackdown on those who insult “state figures and institutions,” including the president and the Parliament.
The bill, submitted by Chair of the Parliamentary Defense and National Security Committee Kamal Amer to House Speaker Ali Abdel Aal on Monday, amends [Ar] two articles of the Penal Code to stipulate that someone who insults the president can be imprisoned for up to three years and fined up to EGP 100,000.
Someone who insults a state institution can also be imprisoned and fined up to EGP 100,000. Egypt Independent reported that “a number of MPs who support the draft said in media statements that the aims of such punitive measures is to prevent the unprecedented waves of humiliation against state icons and officials.”
National Council for Human Rights member Nasser Amin called the suggested changes “meaningless propositions.”
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