[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Egypt and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Egypt Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to egypt@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
Political Rights
Egypt court jails 10 for life in 2011 cabinet clashes retrial
An Egyptian criminal court on Saturday gave life sentences to ten people being retried on charges of their involvement in violent clashes at the cabinet in 2011.
Egypt's High Administrative Court overturns ban on Uber, Careem operations
Egypt’s High Administrative Court has overturned a lower administrative court ruling that suspended the operations of ride-hailing services Uber and Careem in the country, after a year of uncertainty around the legal status of the companies’ activities.
Egypt court issues preliminary death sentences to two former monks for murder of abbot
A Damanhour criminal court has issued preliminary death sentences to two monks including one who was defrocked for the murder of the head of their desert monastery last summer.
Preparations for Egypt's Press Syndicate elections under way
Eleven candidates are running for the Press Syndicate’s presidency and fifty-three journalists are contesting six board seats in next month’s mid-term elections.
The committee supervising the Journalists Syndicate’s mid-term elections approved on Tuesday the applications of eleven candidates running to replace Abdel Mohsen Salama as the head of the syndicate.
Egypt's constitutional amendments: Opposition says no
The left-leaning 25-30 parliamentary bloc was the most vociferous opposition group opposed to proposed changes to the constitution, and its ire was directed mainly at amendments increasing the presidential term from four to six years
Current and former judicial officials characterize the amendments as the final battleground in a years-long seesaw struggle for judicial independence, describing them as a way of “constitutionalizing dictatorship.”
Egypt's parliament preparing for consultations over constitution amendments
Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal announced that 485 MPs had voted in favour of the constitutional changes which will now be referred to the house’s Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for detailed discussion.
Consultations to review Egypt NGO law seriously considered
Civil society is hoping the government takes its suggestions into account while drafting a new law regulating non-governmental organizations.
9 executed over 2015 assassination of prosecutor general
Nine defendants convicted of involvement in the assassination of Prosecutor General Hesham Barakat in 2015 were executed on Wednesday, according to lawyer Faisal al-Sayed.
Four members of the Dostour Party are missing after being arrested on Friday, according to their lawyers and the party’s former president.
Court sentences 2 defendants to life in ‘Libya returnees’ case
The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced on Tuesday two defendants to life imprisonment, three defendants to fifteen years and one defendant to five years in the “Libya returnees” case over charges of being involved in al-Qa‘ida’s terrorist acts in Libya and establishing an illegal group with the aim of targeting facilities in Egypt.
Foreign Policy
Egypt's Sisi discusses Regeni case with Italy's Conte
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday and discussed the latest developments in the investigation into the murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni, as well as boosting cooperation between both countries in fighting terror and illegal migration, the presidential spokesman said.
Europeans 'shouldn't impose their views' on Egypt, Sisi says in response to executions criticism
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi asked European states to not “impose their views" on the country, in a response to criticism of recent executions in the country, saying Arab states’ priorities were to preserve themselves from “collapse.”
Egypt's Sisi calls on Arabs and Europeans to 'overcome what could divide us'
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on Arab and European nations to “overcome what could divide us” at the closing session of the first-ever EU-Arab League summit, which has been taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Egypt objects to UN criticism of death sentence against top prosecutor assassins
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Sunday, Egypt expressed total rejection to foreign intervention in its internal affairs, especially judicial rulings, after receiving criticism from the spokesperson of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and rapporteurs from the Human Rights Council on executing nine defendants for assassinating the former Prosecutor General Hesham Barakat.
Egypt’s Sisi, Salman of Saudi Arabia discuss bilateral relations and security in Sharm el-Sheikh
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz on Saturday night, holding bilateral talks that stressed the importance of maximizing Egyptian-Saudi cooperation as a pillar for protection of Arab national security.
Execution of 9 men in case mired by torture allegations sparks international concern
Concern over the use of torture during investigations into the assassination of former Prosecutor General Hesham Barakat has taken center stage in a back and forth between the United Nations and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, after nine men tried in the case were executed last week.
Economy
Egypt's Sisi approves amendments to several articles of income tax law
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday endorsed amendments to several articles in the income tax law, Law no. 91 of 2005.
Interest rates expected to drop further in Egypt throughout 2019
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) surprised pundits by cutting interest rates by one percent at its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting last week, the first cut in almost a year.
Domestic Security
Military launches raids, airstrikes in North Sinai following deadly militant attack on checkpoint
Egypt’s Armed Forces said on Wednesday that counterterrorism forces killed eight militants suspected of taking part in a deadly attack on a military checkpoint last week in North Sinai.
Arabic
كواليس «شرم الشيخ»: كادت الرياض تطيّر البيان الختامي!
The article discusses the diplomatic dialogues that took place at the EU-Arab League summit.
الحكومة تختلق الإشاعات لنفيها: هكذا تُمرَّر القرارات
The article examines how the state creates public distractions to pass controversial laws.
بعد الاختفاء.. اتهام أعضاء حزب الدستور بـ"الانضمام لجماعة إرهابية"
Members of the Dostour Party who expressed their opposition to the constitutional amendments were detained over joining terrorist group charges in case N 277 of 2019.
«الإعدامات» تفتح جدلا حول مصر.. وهكذا ردت الخارجية
The article examines Egypt’s death penalty verdicts and executions number over the past years.
لردع الإرهاب.. مشاركة الشرطة في عقود الإيجار وتفتيش المنازل بدون إذن نيابة
Security forces were allowed to raid houses and inspect rental contracts without permissions, in an attempt to deter terrorism.
تاريخ دولة تحكيه الحواس| حوار مع خالد فهمي
Mada Masr interviews Khaled Fahmi about his latest book In Quest of Justice.