Egypt amends law to tackle discrimination
October 16th, 2011 - 12:51 am ICT by IANSCairo, Oct 15 (IANS) The Egyptian Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) ratified Saturday an amendment to the criminal law to tackle discrimination among the Egyptians as tension between the Muslims and the Copt Christians grows.
Under the latest modification, any Egyptian civil servant gives preferential treatment to people based on gender or religion, would be imprisoned for at least three months and pay a fine of between 50,000 EGP ($8,389.2) and 100,000 EGP ($16,778.5), reported Xinhua, citing official news agency MENA.
Civilians conduct discrimination based on origin, language or religion will be fined between 30,000 EGP ($5,033.5) and 50,000 EGP ($8,389.2) and jail.
Those who encourage discrimination among civilians would also be punished.
Egypt saw the most deadly violence on Oct 9 before the national TV station since the falling of former President Hosni Mubarak, with at least 25 killed, mostly Copts.
Copts account for about one tenth of Egypt’s total population of around 80 million. Tensions between the Christians and the Muslims sometimes occur due to the construction of churches or conversions.
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