CAIRO: Egypt's ruling military council will pass a decree activating the Law of Treachery within a few days, according to Minister of Local Development Mohammed Atiya. The Law of Treachery was used after Egypt's 1952 Revolution and aims to prevent those who corrupted political life in Egypt form participating in politics for a certain amount of time. The law will be imposed on public figures, ministers, civil servants, parliamentarians, and members of local councils who committed or tried to commit corruption in political life to harm the state's interest. The law will also apply to those who made use of their post for personal benefit or to negatively affect the prices of properties, goods, corporations, or stock securities for personal benefit. Punishments under the law include: • Firing from the job; • Withdrawal of membership from parliamentary councils, local councils, and directorate councils; • Depriving of right to vote or run for the above-mentioned councils at least five years; • Depriving of holding any public job for at least 5 years. Under the Article 3 of the law, a court chaired by a Judge from the Court of Cassation and two advisors from Cairo Court of Appeals shall try anyone who committed an act criminalized by the Law. The Minister of Justice and top officers shall appoint the judges. Regarding upcoming parliamentary lections, Atiya said the High Electoral Committee is authorized to set rules for the election process in coordination with Egypt's governorates. He said the punishment for the electoral crimes has toughed in order to prevent any acts of thuggery or bribery during the elections. Elections for the People's Assembly, the lower house of Egypt's bicameral parliament, are scheduled to begin November 28. The election will be Egypt's first since a popular uprising toppled the country's 30-year ruler and his regime earlier this year. As for the unified law of building places of worship, Atiya said the law will be submitted to the Egyptian cabinet in the next two weeks and will then be referred to the ruling military council for approval.
