 BBC News On Line, 15 September 2000
Egypt moves to ban jail floggings
The top legal body in Egypt, the State Council, is reported to have approved a draft bill abolishing the use of flogging as a disciplinary measure in prisons.
Human rights groups have frequently criticised the treatment of prisoners in Egypt: they say flogging and caning are unconstitutional.
They were introduced into Egyptian jails in 1956, with adults receiving thirty six lashes for offences like assaulting a prison officer or mutiny. Youths can be caned ten times for disciplinary offences.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 Follow-up: 22 December 2001 - Egypt bans flogging in jails
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