Using explosives deserves 'death penalty' over scope of danger: Expert

CAIRO – 8 March 2018: The death penalty was put into practice to penalize those proven to possess explosives and use them in terrorist acts, in an aim to reduce such crimes, said Chairman of the Parliamentarian Committee of Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Bahaa Abu Sha’a.

"The philosophy of issuing any penalty considers and depends on the scope of danger and the criminal offence this specific act brings,” Abu Sha’a said during an interview on TV satellite channel ON Live on Tuesday.

Since Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohamed Morsi was ousted from the presidency, Egypt has seen growing waves of extremism wash over society that have instigated numerous deadly attacks. Among these attacks was the bombing of two churches on Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017. Separate explosions targeted churches in Tanta, north of Cairo, and Alexandria respectively, leaving at least 44 dead and over 70 injured.

Preliminary investigations conducted into the assassination of former Public Prosecutor Hisham Barakat, who was killed in a terrorist car bomb in 2015, revealed that the explosion was carried out using C4 explosives that are sold illegally through Libya.

Parliament approved on Tuesday putting into practice the death penalty for those found to be 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 in prison.

The amendments also stipulate that any person found covering up acts that relate to 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: assault or looting; hindering the police from doing their job; using explosives with the purpose of committing political killing; intentionally vandalizing public facilities; or attacking sites of mass gathering, will be penalized and sentenced to death.

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