Security officials let their guard down and allowed terrorism to thrive even though they knew of ongoing security threats, the head of the pro-government Support Egypt Coalition, Mohamed Elsewedy. Elsewedy said officials whose incompetence allowed the attack must be held accountable, according to Al Shorouk. Elsewedy’s remarks were made in the wake of a weekend terror attack that claimed the lives of 29 people traveling to a monastery.

Elsewedy spoke the same day that Minya’s security chief was reportedly sacked. Police Gen. Faisal Doweidar has been reassigned to a new post as deputy chief of security at the Interior Minister effective Wednesday, three security sources told Reuters. Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar also ordered a shakeup of deputies in the ministry, including the heads of the Tourism Police, economic crimes unit, and the heads of security for Ismailia and Cairo, AMAY reports.

Also yesterday, the House of Representatives announced its support of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s decision to launch airstrikes against terrorists inside and outside Egypt, Al Mal reports.

MP Mohamed Abu Hamed of the Support Egypt Coalition proposed yesterday an anti-hate crime bill meant to replace the religious contempt clauses in the criminal code, Al Shorouk reports. The legislation would see those who accuse any individual or group of being infidels sentenced to either the death penalty or life in prison if their accusations result in a hate crime. The bill, which has the support of at least 80 MPs, also stipulates that discussion and debate of the scriptures of the three Abrahamic religions will not punishable by law and would clearly define what falls under “contempt of religion,” Abu Hamed told the newspaper.