Possession of explosive material punishable by death

CAIRO – 7 March 2018: Parliament approved on Tuesday putting the death penalty in practice for whoever is found in possession of explosives proven to be intended for terrorist acts.

The new penal amendments, which were approved during Parliament’s general session, stipulate that anyone found possessing an unlicensed explosives store or trading in explosives will be handed a life sentence.

The amendments also stipulate that a person found covering up for a culprit convicted of the aforementioned crimes shall be penalized for obstructing justice and deliberately hiding information from the authorities.

According to the current penal law, anyone convicted of forming armed gangs with the purpose of attacking, looting, pillaging, plundering or misappropriate public resources; terrorizing people; hindering the police from doing their job; or using explosives with the purpose of committing political killing, intentionally vandalizing public facilities or attacking sites of mass gathering will be punished with the death penalty.

Earlier on Tuesday, the House of Representatives adopted a draft law setting up a fund for the martyrs and those injured due to their participation in counterterrorism operations.