Egypt amends Antiquities law
The People’s Assembly amended Egypt’s antiquities law on Monday to bring in stiffer punishments for the theft and smuggling of relics while granting patent rights to the country’s antiquities council.
The sale of antiquities is still banned and Egyptians who have antiquities must report their possessions to the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Relics can in the future only be given as a gift with the council’s authorization. They may also be passed on as part of an inheritance.
The new law increases prison sentences for smuggling artifacts out of Egypt to 15 years and a fine of LE 1 million. The penalty for stealing artifacts has been doubled to 10 years.
It also increases the punishment for tampering with antiquity sites to five years in jail, while a new provision gives patent rights to the antiquities council on precise replicas of antiquities that are certified by the council.
