Egypt's parliament on Monday (October 17th) voted to pass a cabinet bill combating illegal migration and human trafficking, Egyptian media reported.
The 34-article bill stipulates a penalty of up to 200,000 Egyptian pounds ($22,538) or a prison sentence to anyone who smuggles migrants, attempts to smuggle them, mediates in the smuggling process, or provides any services while aware of the crime.
The bill, drafted by the cabinet last year, includes a definition of the crime of people-smuggling and related terms such as smugglers, unaccompanied children and fraudulent travel documents.
Smugglers who aim to execute a terrorist attack by smuggling illegal migrants, those who cause death or disability, smuggle women or children, or use false documentation to create new identities for migrants will face a life sentence.
The law establishes a national anti-illegal migration and human trafficking committee that will include representatives from all concerned government ministries and research centres.
An anti-illegal migration fund, under the purview of the prime minister, will be set up by June 30, 2017, to provide financial assistance to victims.
The legislation's passage follows a September 21st incident in which a migrant boat headed to Italy capsized off the Egyptian coast, killing at least 204 people.
