[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.]
Regional and International Relations
Fearing War Crimes Arrest, Egypt`s Sisi Cancels Trip to African Summit
Al-Sisi cancels trip to the African Union summit held in South Africa to avoid possible arrest over war crimes.
Factbox: Sisi in Germany
EgyptSource details the topics covered during al-Sisi’s visit to Germany.
German Government Accused of Hypocrisy over Sisi`s Visit to Berlin
Heba Afify and Mohamed Hamama write on German opposition groups’ criticism of al-Sisi three-day visit to Germany.
Sisi`s Berlin Visit in German and Egyptian Media
Mada Masr reports on German and Egyptian media’s coverage of al-Sisi’s visit to Germany.
Egypt Seeks U.S. Gear to Help Secure Border with Libya
Richard Tomkins writes, “Egypt has asked the United States for equipment to help secure its border with war-torn Libya, while Lebanon is seeking to buy U.S. missiles through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.”
Egypt Should Open Border Crossing into Gaza, British Government Says
The independent reports.
Security
One Year On: Security under Sisi
EgyptSource compiles data on the security domestic and regional security situation during al-Sisi’s first year as president.
Eyewitness Claims Military Killed Arish Worker, Not `Terrorists` as Reported by Local Media
Mostafa Mohie reveals that state claims of killing terrorists in Arish are not true, as the military has actually killed a worker. This article is published in Arabic.
Two Policemen Shot Dead Near Pyramids of Giza
Merna Thomas and Allison Smale report that gunmen on motorcycle shot at a security checkpoint killing two officers.
Human Rights and Legal Institutions
Egyptian Groups: Government has been Kidnapping Students, Activists
Erin Cunningham and Heba Habib write on the noticeable rise in government kidnapping of students and activists.
Twenty-Three Sentenced to Prison for Videotaped Killing of Shias in 2013
Ahram Online reports, “The 2013 incident sent shockwaves across the country, coming in the wake of incendiary comments by Salafist parliamentarians and Islamist backers of Mohamed Morsi.”
Accused of Disturbing Public Peace, Chief Editor of Private Paper Youm7 Released on Bail
Ahram Online reports, “Around 300 journalists staged a protest on Wednesday at the Journalists` Syndicate in downtown Cairo against the imprisonment of their colleagues, criticizing what they described as the stifling of press freedoms in Egypt.”
Fifty-Eight Islamists to Stand Military Trial in Egypt
Ahram Online reports, “The prosecutor’s office said that fugitive Brotherhood leaders in Qatar and Turkey, in collaboration with members in Egypt, spearheaded assassination attempts against security personnel.”
Court Clears Mubarak-Era Housing Minister of Corruption Charges
Court of Cassation dropped all corruption charges against Mubark-era Minister of Housing Ahmed al-Maghrabi.
A Ruling to Deport Gay Foreigners: The View from Egypt
Sonia Farid writes on the state’s newly approved law to deport homosexual foreigners out of the country.
Lawyers Call for Strike Across Egypt`s Courts to Protest Police Brutality
Mada Masr reports.
Egypt Court Postpones Morsi Death Sentence Verdict
“Judge adjourns final ruling on a death sentence recommendation against former president until 16 June.”
Egypt : Harassment and Restrictions to Freedom of Movement against Mr. Mohamed Lotfy
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) writes on the travel ban and restrictions imposed on the Director of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms Mohamed Lotfy hours before his planned trip to Germany.
Egypt Court Hears Closing Arguments for Three Al-Jazeera Journalists being Retried
Jared Malsin writes, “Defense lawyers for Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste refute charges of spreading ‘false news’ and aiding Muslim Brotherhood.”
Egypt: Mubarak to be Retried over Killings of Protesters
An Egyptian appeals court to retry Mubarak on killings of protesters in 2011.
Politics and Culture
Elite Conversations about Fanon in Cairo
Laoura Gribbon reviews Goran Olsson’s film entitled: “Concerning Violence: Nine Scenes from the Anti-Imperialist Self-Defense.”
Four Egyptian Wartime B-Movies: Nudity, Sex and a Dash of Politics
Amany Ali Shawky focuses on the topics low-budget Egyptian films shed light on in the 1970s.
Reports and Opinions
Street Vendors Expelled from Downtown Cairo
Lorena Rios writes, “Authorities in Egypt are clamping down on street vendors, imposing fines and expelling them to spaces outside the main commercial areas in cities.”
Egypt Considers Postponing Fuel Subsidy Smart Card System - State Media
Reuters reports.
Egypt`s Press Syndicate to Hold Emergency Meeting to Discuss `Media Crackdown`
Ahram Online reports.
Shafiq Resigns from Party amid Alleged Clashes with Government
Former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq resigns from National Movement Party.
Punishing the State: The Rise of Urban Militant Cells
Mai Shams el-Din analyzes the rise of Revolutionary Punishment militant group and examines its relations with militant Islamists.
An Emotional Rollercoaster with Sisi
Dalia Rabie reflects on al-Sisi’s first year in office.
Will the Cabinet be Shown the Door?
Mai Shams el-Din writes, “Local media trumpets potential Cabinet reshuffle as Sisi administration comes down on Mehleb.”
The Need to Reform Islam
Moha Ennaji argues that irradiating extremism in Islam is only possible when the Islamic World engages into a democratic transition.
Facing the Threat of Rising Seas
Isabel Esterman writes, “Rising sea levels may endanger Egypt`s coasts and agricultural lands.”
On Being Transgender in Egypt
Pesha Magid writes on the state’s crackdown on transgender Egyptians.
The Brotherhood’s Changing Approach
Abdelrahman Youssef writes, “The Brotherhood’s youth is pushing the group toward confrontation with the Egyptian state.” This article is published in Arabic.
Arabic
التنازل عن الجنسيّة المصريّة مقابل الحريّة
Rami Galal writes, “Prisoner Mohammed Sultan renounced his Egyptian nationality to escape a jail sentence, which stirred many questions about the law on the extradition of prisoners.” This article is published in English.
مصر تستعد لإطلاق بطاقات دعم الوقود
Safia Munir writes, “The Egyptian government, in an effort to eventually reduce fuel subsidies, plans to start requiring the use of fuel subsidy cards to keep track of the fuel consumed by each vehicle.” This article is published in English.
الكنيسة المصريّة تصطدم بالدولة المدنيّة
Rami Galal writes, “Christian Copts are protesting, calling for their religious right to remarry and the necessity to expand the spectrum of the grounds for divorce that they believe the church should recognize.” This article is published in English.
زيارة السيدة المستشارة ...2015
Amr Hamzawy comments on the outcomes of al-Sisi’s visit to Germany.
المشروعات الصغيرة يا سادة الرئيس
Emad al-Ghazali calls president al-Sisi to support small businesses.
منظمات حقوقية: استجواب نجاد البرعي لتقديمه مشروع قانون للوقاية من التعذيب يؤكد أن حرية العمل متاحة فقط للقانونيين والقضاة الذين يغضون النظر عن التعذيب
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights expresses concern over the questioning of rights lawyers. This statement is published in English.
السيسي يدعو الأحزاب المصريّة إلى خوض الإنتخابات البرلمانيّة تحت قائمة موحّدة
Rami Galal writes, “Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for unifying Egypt’s political parties under one banner to run for elections, but could this be a viable option amid Egypt’s current political instability?” This article is published in English.
الأزهر يطوّر المناهج الدراسيّة بعد اتّهامات بتأصيلها للتطرّف
Ismael al-Kholy writes, “Al-Azhar curricula is being updated following accusations of extremism, which has caused controversy among religious thinkers and authorities.” This article is published in English.
ما "الأمن العقدي" الذي هدّده إسلام البحيري؟
Hiba Afify writes, “How Al-Azhar is trying to keep its grip on religious discourse in the name of protecting the nation.” This article is published in English.
"ممنوع من السفر".. بين السياسة والقانون والبلطجة
Mohamed Hama reflects on the state’s imposition of travel bans following the government’s decision to ban Mohamed Lofty from traveling prior to his planned trip to Germany. This article is published in English.