CAIRO: The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces released a decree Thursday amending seven articles in the penal code, enforcing harsher punishment in sexual harassment cases. Amended Article 267 states that those found guilty of raping females face a life sentence or the death penalty. The death penalty is applicable if the victim is under 18 years of age, or if the rapist is related to her, is a guardian or a paid worker, or if there are multiple rapists involved in the incident. An additional clause in Article 268 stipulates that whoever commits an assault or threat or is involved in any way in such acts of aggression faces a minimum prison sentence of seven years. If the victim is both under 18 and the perpetrator is related to the victim, then the perpetrator receives a life sentence. An additional Article 269 stipulates that public verbal abuse is punishable with a three-month prison sentence along with a LE 300 fine. If the offender is convicted of the same crime twice in one year, they receive a jail sentence of no less than one year and are fined between LE 500 to LE 3,000. In a meeting earlier this month, the cabinet of ministers approved these amendments to the penal law to “intensify criminal punishment for sexual attacks on women and children, namely sexual harassment,” which was presented by the Minister of Justice, according to a Cabinet statement. The draft crowns an anti-thuggery law passed in the last Cabinet meeting. Ministers explained that the current penal code was not sufficient to deter such grave crimes. The law also amended provisions related to verbal attacks using modern technology such as wire and wireless communications means, stipulating a penalty of between six months to two years as well as a fine of between LE 500 to LE 2,000 for anyone involved in any form of verbal or physical harassment in a public area or on the telephone or any wireless means of communication. The new penalties will be enforced as of the date of publication in official newspapers.
