Egypt’s parliament will discuss on Monday a new law that bars the drones in the country as part of authorities’ effort to combat terrorism.
The Defense and National Security committee will address a draft-law that bans the import, manufacturing, selling or possession of drones given that they have been used in terror plots.
If approved, the law will sanction the possession of drones only after an official permit is obtained.
Committee member MP Khaled Abou Taleb underlined the importance of the law because it organizes affairs linked to national security,
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new law imposes a punishment on anyone who possesses drones without official authorization.
The punishment could reach the death, especially if the drone is used for a terrorist attack, he explained.
The punishments are aimed at deterring people from possessing the banned product, said the MP.
It will be applied to anyone who uses the drones for illegal purposes, especially since in many occasions the drones are imported as a form of toy, but they are later used in terror attacks, said Abou Taleb.
The Egyptian government had approved the draft-law on barring drones in March.
Parliamentary sources explained that the new law seeks to organize the possession of the drones, seeing as how they are easily obtained in the country and how they can be used for malicious purposes, such as surveillance and creating instability, noting that they can also be equipped with explosives.
