E/CN.A/1992/52 page 18 2. Acts which are designated as criminal offences under the terms of article 160 of the Penal Code (as amended by Act No. 29 of 1982) *A penalty of imprisonment and/or a fine of not less than LE 100 and not more than LE 500 shall be imposed on: (i) any person who destroys, damages or desecrates premises intended for the celebration of religious rites, emblems or other articles venerated by the members of a religious community or group of people; (ii) any person who uses violence or threats to disrupt or interrupt the religious observances or celebrations of any community; and (iii) any person who profanes or desecrates graves or cemeteries.1 3. Acts which are designated as criminal offences under the terms of article 161 of the Penal Code The penalties prescribed in the preceding article also apply to: (a) The printing or publication of scriptures that are revered by members of a religious community, whose rites are performed in public, in such a way as to deliberately distort and alter the meaning of the text of those scriptures. (b) The mimicry of a religious celebration in a public place or gathering with the aim of ridiculing it or exposing it to public view. The provisions of the Egyptian Constitution in this connection are based on the principles of freedom of religion and belief, non-discrimination among citizens in this regard, and the guarantee by the State of freedom of religious observance. Accordingly, the position adopted by the Egyptian Constitution is in keeping with the practice of the international community, as defined in the international covenants and conventions concerning human rights and freedoms. Moreover, the role of the Egyptian legislature in the formulation of these principles was not confined to the promulgation of constitutional provisions since, as already indicated, those principles have been granted legal protection through the designation as criminal offences of all acts which prejudice or infringe them and through the prescription of penalties to deter the perpetrators of such acts. The above provisions clearly show the extent of the respect and freedom which religions enjoy in Egypt and which is guaranteed by the Constitution and protected by law." 32. The following additional information was transmitted to the Government of Egypt on 31 October 1991, by the Special Rapporteur: "According to the information received, there is no article in Egyptian law which speaks of conversion from one religion to another. While converting to Islam from another faith is allegedly approved, converting from Islam to another religion is not allowed and cannot be declared officially. It has also been alleged that employers sometimes indicate in advertisements for job vacancies that the applicants should be of Muslim faith. In addition, it has been said that £20,000 bonuses have been offered for converting to Islam.