Egypt’s electoral commission on Wednesday said it would refer to prosecutors about 54 million people who did not vote this month in elections for the upper house of Parliament.
Only about 14 per cent of Egypt’s almost 63 million eligible voters took part in the election, the commission said.
It said that almost 1.4 million ballots, or 15.4 per cent of all votes, were invalid.
The decision to prosecute reflects the government’s disappointment at the low turnout.
The 300-seat chamber, known formally as the Council of Senators, will have a purely consultative mandate, vetting draft legislation sent by the president or the legislature.
The summer’s punishing heat and the fear of coronavirus infection contributed to the low turnout.
Voter apathy is also believed to have had an effect, with the outcome of the vote – a chamber packed with government supporters – seeming to be a foregone conclusion.
One hundred of the chamber’s 300 seats were won by a “closed,” pro-government list that ran unopposed.
Another 100 will shortly be appointed by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, while the other third were won by independent candidates who are not critical of the government.
Parliament’s upper chamber was struck out by Egypt’s 2014 constitution, but amendments adopted in a nationwide referendum last year included its reintroduction.
Under a rarely implemented law, voters who stay away from the polls without a valid reason face a fine.
Those fines could give the treasury up to 2.75 billion Egyptian pounds (Dh636.6 million/$173.3m).
It would be virtually impossible to prosecute 54 million people, let alone collect the fines, but the government, seems determined to make a statement.
“The Egyptian state has provided sufficient resources and made the necessary preparations for voters to exercise their political right,” the commission said.
“The National Electoral Commission has taken all the preventive measures to protect all stakeholders in the election process, as well as voters, from the coronavirus.
“It has warned time and again that voters must cast their ballots, but some failed to fulfil their national role and duty to participate.
"That led the board of the electoral commission to refer all those who failed to vote to the prosecutors to take the necessary steps against them.”
Despite the exceptionally low turnout and the disproportionately high number of invalid ballots, the commission praised the August 11 and 12 vote for the senate when it announced the results last week.
“It was a competitive election held according to the highest standards of international transparency and integrity,” said the commission’s chairman, Lasheen Ibrahim.
He praised Egyptians for taking part in the vote despite the heat and the pandemic, which has killed more than 5,000 in the country and infected nearly 100,000 since it began in February.
“And despite of this, the glorious people of Egypt were emphatically able to pull through these conditions and show the world that they are able to face these difficulties regardless of the cost,” Mr Ibrahim said.
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
