Egypt plans tougher punishment 'for spreading false information'

Cairo: In a move slammed by critics of the Egyptian government as aimed at muzzling relative freedom of speech, the Parliament is set to debate a draft Bill toughening penalties against spreading false news that "may threaten national security or cause public panic".

The Bill envisages a minimum two-year imprisonment term compared to 24-hour jailing in the present penal code against anyone found guilty of rumour-mongering.

"Spreading false information poses great dangers to public security and national economy," said MP Mohammad Qwaitah, who suggested the controversial law.

The Bill, which was approved this week by an ad-hoc committee at the People's Assembly (the lower house of the Egyptian parliament), also calls for slapping a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,820 or about Dh6,645) instead of the current 200 pounds, on rumour-mongers.

Denying that his proposal targets freedom of speech, Qwaitah, a member of the ruling National Democratic Party, told Gulf News that the sole aim of the law is to "deter rumour-mongers".

"Lenient punishment apparently encourages such persons to spread false news. Who can forget the panic caused among the public last year by the rumour that the Nile water was contaminated?" argued MP Qwaith. "The rumour about President Hosni Mubarak's health was dangerous too," he added.

On Wednesday, a court sentenced Ebrahim Eisa, the editor of the independent daily Al Destour (The Constitution) to six months in jail and a fine of 200 pounds for "spreading false news" about Mubarak's health last summer.

"This law will add to a raft of restrictions on the freedom of the press in Egypt," Abdul Halim Qandil, an outspoken critic of Mubarak, told Gulf News. "The phrasing of this law is so elastic and ambiguous that it can be manipulated to gag opponents on the pretext of safeguarding national security and interests," he added. Qandil is one of four journalists, who last year was handed down one year in prison each for slandering senior officials in the ruling party.

"What we need is more freedom and unrestricted access to information instead of such laws, which give the impression that the regime is weak and desperate to survive at all costs."

Qandil expects the Bill to be easily endorsed by the parliament. "Mubarak's party wields the vast majority in both houses of the parliament. So the passage of the law is a forgone conclusion."

Who can forget the panic caused among the public last year by the rumour that the Nile water was contaminated?"

Mohammad Qwaitah

Member of Parliament who suggested the controversial Bill