Comment on Egypt lawmakers decry bill 'selling' foreigners citizenship

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's parliament on Monday passed a draft bill that grants foreigners citizenship if they deposit the sum of at least 7 million Egyptian pounds, or about $391,000, in a local bank, save it there for five years and reside in the country during that period, among other criteria. The draft bill, obtained by The Associated Press, still faces a final approval by the president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, before it can become a law. It has set off a storm of criticism by legislators and on social media networks. Lawmaker Haitham el-Hariri accused the government of "selling Egyptian citizenship" when instead it should be "facilitating residency and visa procedures" for investors.Read more on NewsOK.com