[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
Hesham Gaafar, 3 other detainees start hunger strike in Qasr al-Ainy Hospital Four detainees currently being held at Qasr al-Ainy Hospital announced a hunger strike on Saturday night, in protest over what they say is an unwillingness by security to allow them to receive food, medicine, or visits.
Court adjourns case to determine Hossam Bahgat, Gamal Eid asset freeze to September 17 Cairo Criminal Court postponed a hearing to review the asset freeze of human rights defenders Hossam Bahgat, Gamal Eid and four others to 17 September.
Egypt’s supply minister accused of billing state for 2-year hotel stay amid wheat scandal During the airing of his talk show "Haqa`eq wa Asrar” on Sada al-Balad satellite channel on Friday, member of parliament and journalist Mostafa Bakry accused Supply Minister Khaled Hanafy of misusing public funds to pay for a two-year stay at a Cairo hotel.
Law extended, gives Egypt`s military authority to secure public facilities for 5 years President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced a five-year extension of a law introduced in 2014 assigning Egypt`s military to secure “public and vital buildings,” local media reported.
Military arrests 183 people for attempting to migrate from Alexandria The spokesperson of the Egyptian armed forces said on Wednesday that military forces arrested 183 people of different nationalities for attempting illegal migration through Alexandria.
Egypt to investigate spying charges against Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh and Hamdeen Sabbahi Allegations that Egyptian politicians Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh and Hamdeen Sabbahi have spied for Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were referred Monday to Egypt’s State Security Agency for investigation.
Top prosecutor’s assassination case postponed to Aug 30 The Cairo Criminal Court decided on Tuesday to postpone the trial of sixty-seven defendants accused of killing Egypt’s former top prosecutor Hesham Barakat to 30 August, for further examination of the evidence.
Former Egyptian president Mursi appeals against Qatar espionage sentence The defense team of former president Mohamed Mursi filed an appeal on Monday against prison sentence handed to the ousted president in the `espionage for Qatar` case.
Egypt’s prosecution challenges verdict clearing Mursi of espionage with Qatar Egypt’s public prosecution appealed on Tuesday against a court decision clearing former president Mohamed Mursi of the espionage charge, in a case dubbed as espionage with Qatar, before the Court of Cassation.
Baseera poll shows decline in Sisi voter base Sixty-six percent of Egyptians said they would vote for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi should elections be held immediately, a Baseera poll indicated on Monday, marking a drop from an eighty-one percent voter base in a June poll.
The story behind Egyptian photographer`s award-winning image Abd al-Gawwad’s photo was selected for first place in UNESCO`s Unite for Heritage global competition late last month, out of over 10,000 entries from all over the world.
Egypt refers 116 defendants to military prosecution over affiliation with ISIS Supreme state security prosecution referred 116 defendants accused of being in connection with Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq, to military prosecution.
Military hands 2 yr to life-time imprisonment sentences to 418 in Minya A Minya military court handed sentences varying from two years to life-time imprisonment to 418 people on Thursday on charges of violence in Minya during the dispersal of the Rabaa and Nahda sit-ins in 2013.
Minya security directorate: there is no sectarianism, just `feuds between neighbours` The head of the Minya security directorate, Faisal Dwaidar, said that there is no sectarian strife in the Upper Egypt governorate, and that the recent violence is a result of clashes between neighbors.
Govt appeals against annulment of Egyptian- Saudi agreement before SCC The State Lawsuits Authority is challenging an administrative court decision voiding the Egyptian-Saudi maritime border demarcation agreement before the Supreme Constitutional Court.
Egyptian MP resigns from parliament`s rights body after foreign trip causes row A maverick Egyptian Member of Parliament, Ilhami Agina, decided on Sunday to resign from parliament`s human rights committee in protest at what he called "the repeated attempts of the committee head Anwar al-Sadat to manipulate its MPs to serve the agenda of foreign institutions."
Sisi praises Egypt’s Rio Olympic medalists President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised and congratulated on Friday Egyptian champions who earned medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Economy
In Egypt, IMF deal brings austerity few can afford Squeezed by economic and political turmoil since the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians are preparing for a new era of austerity.
Moody’s credit rating agency ranks Egypt as stable Egypt was given a stable B3 rating for its “long-term issuer and senior unsecured bond” by the credit rating agency Moody’s, a press release by Moody’s Investors Service said on Friday.
Sisi approves amended law jailing black market foreign currency traders Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved on Sunday the amendments of a central bank law that imposes harsher punishments on illegal foreign currency traders, amid wider efforts to crackdown on the black market.
Pressing problems in Egyptian aviation The aviation sector in Egypt, both civil and military, is becoming a burden to the state as it seeks to secure significant new aircraft deals amid a tough economic environment.
Foreign Relations
Palestinian official denies accepting Egyptian peace initiative While news spread alleging the Palestinian Authority had accepted an Egyptian initiative to resume peace negotiations with Israel on Saturday, top Palestinian officials denied it.
Egypt’s Al-Azhar decries `Israeli settlers` storming Al-Aqsa Mosque On Sunday, approximately 400 Israeli settlers stormed Al-Azhar mosque in the Jerusalem in what Al-Azhar described as a ‘barbaric attack.’
Trump praises Sisi and blames Obama’s Cairo trip for ISIS Donald Trump placed blamed for the inception of ISIS on President Barack Obama and current democratic nominee for President, Hilary Clinton in a speech he gave on Monday.
TV host accuses British ambassador of previously working for UK intel Controversial television host Ahmed Moussa accused British Ambassador John Casson of working against Egypt and alleged that he had previously held a position in British intelligence services, in Tuesday’s episode of his show “‘Ala Mas’ouleyety” on privately owned channel Sada al-Balad.
Update: Deutsche Welle ends relationship with freelancer over comments against Egyptian activist Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster, announced on Friday the termination of its working relationship with a freelance Arabic writer who incited violence toward renowned Egyptian human rights lawyer Mahienour al-Massry.
Russian delegation to visit Egypt for airport inspections Aug 29 A security delegation is due to arrive in Egypt on 29 August to begin evaluating security levels in the Cairo and Sharm al-Sheikh airports, Ismail Aboul Ghar, the head of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation said on Wednesday.
500 Chinese businessmen to visit Egypt, discuss investments in Suez Canal region A total of 500 Chinese businessmen are to visit Egypt by the end of August to discuss potential investment opportunities in the Suez Canal region.
Domestic Security
Skepticism and blood in Sinai follow news of militant leader death The military announced the killing of a militant leader in Sinai, but whether this is the beginning of the end of terrorism in the peninsula remains open to question.
Sinai province confirm Egyptian military killed group`s leader The Sinai Province, an ISIS-affiliated militant group based in North Sinai confirmed on Thursday that the Egyptian military killed the group`s leader.
Egypt`s defence minister vows to defend state from ‘forces of evil’ Egyptian Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi said on Wednesday that Egypt has a zero tolerance policy to “forces of evil and corruption” and anyone who attempts to seize Egypt`s land and sovereignty.
Two Egyptian policemen killed in checkpoint shooting Two policemen were killed on Sunday in an attack that targeted a security checkpoint in the province of Menoufia.
Police conscript killed by IED, five injured in Egypt`s North Sinai A twenty-two year-old police conscript was killed on Friday and five other Egyptian policemen injured by an improvised explosive device in Arish in North Sinai.
Police officer killed in landmine explosion in Arish - ministry A police officer was killed in a landmine explosion in the town of Arish in North Sinai on Monday, the Interior Ministry said.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
تقرير جنينة: أسئلة المعرفة والنضال السياسي In light of the sentencing of Hesham Geneina and the controversial leaked Central Auditing Authority report about the extent of corruption in Egypt, Amr Adly further examines the relationship between knowledge and political struggle during what he deems the present“review” phase following the January 2011 revolution.