CAIRO: Egypt may take legal action against journalists who report “false” military death tolls in jihadi attacks that contradict official statements, if a new anti-terrorism law is approved, officials told AFP Sunday.

Article 33 of the draft law, published in several Egyptian newspapers, stipulates a minimum two-year sentence for “reporting false information on terrorist attacks that contradicts official statements.”

The law also opens up the possibility of deportation and house arrest. Two officials, including Justice Minister Ahmed Al-Zind, confirmed the wording of the law.

Zind said the law was prompted in part by coverage of Daesh attacks on Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula on July 1.

The military spokesman said 21 soldiers and more than 100 militants were killed in the attacks and ensuing clashes, after security officials said dozens more soldiers had been killed. The government has accused foreign media who reported the higher death toll of exaggerating troop casualties.

“The day of the attack in Sinai some sites published 17, then 25, then 40, then 100 dead,” Zind said.

Zind said such reports affected the “morale” of the country. “There was no choice but to impose some standards,” he said.

“The government has the duty to defend citizens from wrong information.”

“I hope no one interprets this as a restriction on media freedoms. It’s just about numbers (in death tolls),” he said.

“If the army says 10 died, don’t report 20.”