CAIRO: Any person who uses force or threats to persuade a voter to cast or not cast his or her vote in an election or referendum could face up to 100,000 EGP in fines (U.S. $16,900) and up to five years in prison, Egypt's ruling military council decreed today. The punishment comes as part of a set of amendments to certain articles of Law No. 73/1956, concerning the practice of political rights. The amended Article 48 also sets the minimum penalty for the above offences at a 10,000 EGP fine (U.S. $1,690) and one year in prison. Anyone who publishes or broadcasts false news about elections or referendums or about candidates' attitudes or ethics to affect the results of said election or referendum will be subject to the same minimum and maximum sentences. Additionally, any person registered in the database of eligible voters who does not vote in an election or referendum will be fined 500 EGP (U.S. $84). In related news, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt's ruling military council, today passed Decree No. 124/2011, which authorizes the Egyptian Armed Forces to bear all costs of publish political parties' publicity in Egyptian newspapers.
