Egypt’s upper house of parliament, the Shura Council, approved on Wednesday an anti-human trafficking bill, though council members differed over Article 16 of the bill that distinguishes between attempting to traffic humans and actually committing the crime. While some members believed punishment for the first case should be less harsh than the second, the council in the end decided that both crimes would receive the same punishment–life imprisonment.
Council members also differed over Article 22, which absolves perpetrators of punishment if they decline to report a next of kin who has committed a human trafficking crime. However, the justice ministry representative explained to the council that this practice is known to all penal codes worldwide.
People’s Assembly Speaker Fathi Sorour criticized the government for signing international agreements that stipulate penalties which are incompatible with Egyptian law.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
