Egyptian Antiquity smugglers would now spend more time in prison if caught
CABINET WATCH- Antiquity smugglers would now spend more time in prison, pay up to EGP 10 mn if caught: The Madbouly Cabinet has approved amendments to the Antiquities Protection Law that would set fines of between EGP 1 mn to EGP 10 mn and impose tougher prison sentences for anyone caught in possession of or selling Egyptian antiquities abroad, according to a statement out following the weekly cabinet meeting. If ratified by the House of Representatives, the amendments would also stipulate prison sentences of at least a month and fines of between EGP 10k-100k for antiquity sites and museum trespassing. Other decisions taken during the meeting include:
- Approving restructuring the Federation of Egyptian Industries after a new law to regulate the FEI came into effect earlier this year.
- Approving a presidential decree to build New Mansoura, which involves allocating 7.2k feddans to the New Urban Communities Authority;
- Approving status legalization requests of 62 churches around the country;
- A decision to rename the Sports Development Center in Heliopolis to ‘The Club’, and relaunch it as a sports and social club.