Egyptian activists aim to shut down cyber-crime bill

In a report titled Anti-technology, the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE), the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and Support for Information Technology Center (SITC) said that the bill would affect the rights and freedoms of all internet users in Egypt. It would also hurt the country's economic, civil and political robustness, they added.

The report points out the "loose drafting" of the bill, which uses "weak and inaccurate definitions" to create new penalties based on how an alleged crime is committed rather than the nature of the crime itself.

"It is like attempting to draft different penalties for murder by firearms and murder by sword, claiming that the advent of gunpowder led to new crimes, whereas the crime remains the same; ie: murder, regardless of how it was committed," the report read.

For example, those convicted of "inciting protests" online will face harsher penalties than protesters themselves.

In addition, the penalty for "contempt of religion" published online can stretch to a life sentence in prison, compared with a five-year sentence if the same crime were committed on TV channels, for example.

The report draws attention to Articles 11 and 23 of the bill as the "most dangerous". imposing "extremely harsh penalties" including rigorous prison sentences and high fines on anyone convicted of committing "public order crimes" online.

Article 11 imposes a minimum prison sentence of three years and a 100,000 Egyptian Pound ($11,265) fine on anyone found guilty of creating a website with the aim of inciting any crime as stipulated in the penal code.

Article 23 imposes up to life imprisonment if any of the crimes mentioned in the bill are committed with the perceived aim of endangering the safety and security of society, endangering the lives of citizens, preventing or obstructing the work of public authorities, disrupting the provisions of the constitution, insulting heavenly religions or attacking rights and freedoms.

The draft bill, proposed last month by independent MP Tamer al-Shahawy, threatens the work of online press agencies, increasing the sometimes arbitrary risks already faced by journalists, the report added.

Crackdown on online dissent

On Monday, the office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a statement stressing the need to "strengthen international efforts to prevent the use of the internet for spreading extremist ideas".

This comes amid a growing crackdown on online dissent and independent media - this very website is blocked in Egypt - with curbs on free speech and political opposition described as necessary in the fight against "terrorism".

The daughter of Egypt's top auditor Hesham Geneina, who is currently on trial for "spreading false news" after exposing multi-billion-dollar administrative corruption, was recently dismissed from her job in the administrative prosecution office over a Facebook post criticising former justice minister Ahmed al-Zend.

Last month, all six members of an Egyptian performance group named Atfal Shawarea ["Street Children"] were arrested for "inciting protests" and "insulting state institutions" after uploading satirical videos allegedly criticising the regime and its supporters.

In February, an Egyptian court sentenced three Coptic Christian teenagers to five years in jail for "contempt of Islam" for making a video which the regime alleged "mocked" Muslim prayers.

In January, popular Egyptian cartoonist Islam Gawish was arrested at his office for allegedly moderating a Facebook page and news website without a permit, as well as "insulting the regime".

His cartoons have satirised government figures, including Sisi. He was released a day later with no charges.

In December 2015, a 22-year-old Egyptian Facebook user was sentenced to three years in prison after posting a Photoshopped photo of Sisi with Mickey Mouse ears.

Amr Nohan - who was just five days away from finishing his compulsory military service - was charged with "attempting to overthrow the regime" in the resulting military trial.

Activists fear a further widening of the crackdown if laws governing online activity are tightened even further.