The Interior Ministry is coordinating with the Justice Ministry to prepare a draft law with harsher penalties for crimes against houses of worship, “thuggery,” smuggling subsidized goods, blocking roads, stealing electricity, assaults on the freedom to work, and sabotaging installations, according to a security source.

The source told state-run news agency MENA that the bill aims to stop criminals and help police restore security.

He added that “the new law includes articles to punish those who commit or incite any acts that disrupt traffic in roads, main squares and railways, as well as organizes the work of companies guarding facilities and the transfer of funds to be under the supervision of the Interior Ministry.”

Over the past year, many Egyptians have often had trouble obtaining basic commodities and have dealt with numerous energy crises.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm