MP calls for harsher penalties for child rapists

CAIRO – 22 April 2017: Member of Parliament, Hisham Wali, presented a draft law amending the criminal code to impose harsher imprisonments on child rapists, he said in a statement Saturday.


The draft law, presented to the Speaker of the Parliament, aims to introduce new provisions to the criminal law No.58 of 1937 that will stipulate punishments for the kidnapping and sexual abuse of children.


He also called for harsher penalties for the abduction of infants.


Last month, the story of an 18-month-old girl who was raped by a 36-year-old man made headlines in Egypt, and calls to execute the defendant echoed in most media reports.


“The Child Law only protects children against violence and promotes their right in having a good family life; however any crimes are related to the criminal code, “Ahmed Meselhy, lawyer at the Egyptian Coalition for Children’s Rights, told Egypt Today.


On 16 April, Undersecretary of Al-Azhar Institute, Abbas Shoman, called for a death penalty for child rapists.


Last June, a total of 377 children faced different types of abuse in 225 different cases of violations ranging from kidnapping to rape, according to a report by the Egyptian Foundation for Advancement of Childhood Conditions (EFACC).