Egypt Penal Code Information
The Egyptian Penal Code, enacted as Law No. 58 of 1937, is the foundational text of substantive criminal law in Egypt. It replaced earlier nineteenth-century penal legislation and remains in force today, though it has been amended many times to address terrorism financing, cybercrime, money laundering, sexual harassment, and other offences that did not exist when the original code was drafted. The code is organised around general principles of criminal liability followed by specific offences grouped by the interest they protect.
The substantive offences are arranged by category: crimes against the security of the state, crimes against public administration, crimes against the administration of justice, crimes against public order, crimes against persons, and crimes against property. The code defines elements of each offence and prescribes penalties ranging from fines and short detention to long-term imprisonment, life imprisonment with hard labour, and capital punishment for the gravest crimes. Procedural matters are governed by separate legislation. Browse related Egyptian legislation on Egypt laws in English.