MP demands tightening of penalty for insulting the President

CAIRO 9 May 2017: A new draft law regarding amendments of Egypt’s penal code regulating charges of insulting the President and the symbols of the state was submitted by MP Kamal Amer, head of the National Defense and Security Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday.

The draft law includes replacing two new texts with articles 179 and 184 of the penal code.

The article 179 stated that any person who insults the President shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of no less than 24 hours and not exceeding three years, and a fine no less than 50 thousand pounds and no more than 100 thousand pounds, or one of these two penalties.

While the article 184 stated that any person who insults the House of Representatives or other statutory bodies, the army, judiciary or any symbols of the State of Egypt shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine of no less than 50 thousand pounds and no more than 100 thousand pounds or one of the two penalties.