All details you need to know on Egypt’s 1st ‘bullying’ law

CAIRO – 24 August 2020:  On August 16, Egypt’s House of Representatives approved a bill proposed by the government to amend some provisions of the Penal Code regarding ‘bullying’.

The bill for the first time sat a clear detention for bullying in the Egyptian law as a “show of force or control by the offender, or the abuse of a vulnerable victim.” The law also includes prison and fine punishments for the crime.

Here are all the details you need to know about Egypt’s first law on ‘bullying’:

The law defines bullying as a “show of force or control by the offender, or the abuse of a vulnerable victim,” or as an offence committed on the basis of gender, race, religion, physical attributes, health or mental status, or social class

 The law comes to confront a phenomenon that has grown recently in Egypt, which constitutes a danger to society, and an obstacle to the implementation of the obligations of a decent life for citizens.

The law includes penalties of prison term of no less than six months and/or a fine of LE 10,000 to LE 30,000.

If the offence is committed by more than one person or if the offender is related to the victim, penalties can be increased to a minimum of one year in prison and/or a fine ranging from LE 20,000 to LE 100,000.

Egypt’s Cabinet announced proposing the bill to The House in a July meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli.

The announcement came after a series of bullying incidents in the country were recorded and circulated on social media websites. Egypt’s Attorney General has ordered investigating these cases.

Earlier in July, Egypt’s Attorney General Hamada al-Sawy ordered arresting two suspects in detention pending investigations; after accusing them of insulting a Sudanese child and violate his personal life, causing discrimination between individuals on basis of their origin.

In a statement, Sawy’s office said that the two suspects beat the child and filmed him aiming to post the video on social media.

“When the child tried to escape from his abusers, they throw him with stones and stole his stuff that he left behind in his escape attempt,” the statement explained.

Also, The Ministry of Health in June published a video on its official Facebook page explaining the danger of bullying coronavirus patients.

In the video, the ministry called on citizens not to bully people infected with the virus, and to treat them normally, while taking preventive and precautionary measures to protect themselves from infection.

The motion graphics footage advised citizens on how to deal with COVID-19 patients without blaming them so that they do not get embarrassed or scared, or hide their illness instead of seeking help.

“This is too bad for their physical and mental health. We all have a big role in stopping any harm; specially bullying, stigma, and harsh words to patients, or doctors and nurses who take care of them,” says the video.