Ibrahim al-Heneidi, Transitional Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, has said that the draft for the anti-terrorism law prepared by the Justice Ministry and referred by the Cabinet to the supreme committee for legislative reform, includes a penalty of rigorous imprisonment for at least five years for anyone using social media or the Internet to promote ideas calling for terrorist acts.
The prison sentence also includes the publishing of information intended to mislead the public or the authorities, as well as the exchange of messages between terrorist groups.
In remarks on Sunday, Heneidi said the draft law includes 52 items divided in two sections. The first section deals with substantive provisions, divided into two chapters, one dealing with general provisions and the other with crimes and penalties. The second section includes procedural provisions.
He pointed out that the committee will send letters to the Defense and Interior ministries, as well as the National Security Agency, accompanied by a copy of the draft law, in order to receive their comments within 15 days.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
