[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
Report reveals continuing violations of Egyptian press freedoms The Journalists Against Torture Observatory recorded a total of 106 violations of press freedoms in the third quarter of 2016. The Ministry of Interior is named as the most frequent offender, and was directly responsible for thirty-six of the incidents.
Jurists group urges Egypt to end `politicisation` of judiciary The International Commission of Jurists urged Egyptian authorities to end "politicization" of the judiciary and ensure its independence and accountability.
UN Special Rapporteur: Egyptian government’s systematic attacks aim to silence civil society United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Maina Kiai issued a warning on Tuesday regarding increasing restrictions imposed on civil society in Egypt and the targeting of human rights workers and independent civil society organizations, according to a statement released by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Sisi says `western perspective` on human rights not applicable to Egypt Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told a number of US Congress members that human rights and freedoms in Egypt shouldn`t be viewed from a “western perspective,” in a meeting on Sunday.
Video of tuk tuk driver railing against the state goes viral A video of a tuk tuk driver raging against the state has gone viral, racking up over five million views online and trending on social media since its release on Wednesday.
Egyptian group issues call for 5-year moratorium on World Day Against the Death Penalty To mark World Day Against the Death Penalty, an independent Egyptian group is appealing to citizens, civil society organizations, political parties and popular movements to support its proposal for a five-year moratorium on capital punishment.
Egypt’s prosecution detains 8 students after calling for protests on Nov. 11 Egypt’s prosecution ordered on Sunday the detention of eight people for fifteen days pending further investigations on various charges including calling for protests on 11 November.
Man in Sharqiya sentenced to 2 years prison for propagating Shia teachings The manager of an unregistered nursery in Kafr Shakr, Sharqiya, was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday for “insulting the Prophet’s companions” and “spreading Shia lies to children.”
Report from Rashid: Where was the state when hundreds drowned? Everyone in Rashid says the same thing: the state’s response to the tragedy was almost non-existent; survivors were rescued by local fisherman.
Egypt`s new cybercrime bill could send you to prison Under the newly-drafted cybercrime law you may be punished for a number of things you do online, and even some you do not do.
Elections for top spots in Egypt`s parliamentary committees to take place Sunday Following a procedural sitting on 4 October, Egypt’s parliament will begin its second session on Sunday where elections will take place for top parliamentary committee positions.
Record number of Egyptian MPs look to join Human Rights Committee A record sixty-four Members of Parliament have decided to join the Egyptian parliament`s Human Rights Committee, which parliament`s deputy speaker Mahmoud al-Sherif says clearly reflects an increasing interest in human rights issues.
Economy
Egypt`s pound rebounds on black market after hitting record lows The Egyptian pound strengthened on the black market, hovering around 15.2 to 15.6 LE to the dollar on Sunday, after hitting a historic low of around sixteen LE to the dollar last week.
Egypt receives alternative oil shipments following Aramco decision to suspend imports In reaction to a decision by Saudi oil company Aramco yesterday not to supply Egypt with its October oil shipment, Egypt received alternative oil imports from other international contractors on Tuesday, according to Petroleum Ministry spokesperson Hamdy Abdel Aziz.
Sisi says economic reforms `hard` but `essential` to save economy Egypt`s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday that the economic reforms that are being taken by the state are "hard" but "essential" to save the economy.
Company accused of selling fake Egyptian cotton invited to open factory in Egypt Industry and Trade Minister Tarek Qabil has invited Welspun India, a company previously accused of selling fake Egyptian cotton, to open a factory in Egypt.
Foreign Relations
Amid foreign policy turmoil, Sisi denies link between Security Council vote and petroproduct suspension With Egypt embroiled in a series of international diplomatic conflicts, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gave a nationally televised address on Thursday, denying the purported link between Saudi Aramco’s decision to halt the supply of petroproducts and the country’s vote to support Russia’s initiative on Syria at the UN Security Council.
Pro-government media vows `Egypt won`t kneel` amid escalating tensions with Saudi A number of pro-regime TV hosts launched a campaign rejecting Egypt`s subservience to any country in the wake of rising tension between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Domestic Security
At least 12 troops killed, 6 others injured in assault on security checkpoint in Sinai At least twelve troops were killed and six others wounded during an armed assault on a security checkpoint by unidentified assailants. The incident has been described as the largest attack on security forces in central Sinai.
Egypt army launches major anti-terror campaign in Sinai Egypt`s army has launched a major campaign to target “terrorist elements” in several areas in North and Central Sinai, the army`s spokesman announced on Sunday.
Arabic
فحوص العذرية للطالبات المصريات مرآة ثقافة شعبية لم تذهب مع الريح Controversy ensues following the call of an Egyptian Member of Parliament to hold mandatory virginity tests to female students before getting admitted to universities.
"البترول": "أرامكو" السعودية أبلغتنا رسميًا أن واردات أكتوبر من البترول لن تصل Saudi company Aramco announces the suspension of oil shipments to the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation for the current month due to technical and political reasons, according to two Saudi sources.
فى لزوم إصلاح السياسة قبل الاقتصاد Fahmy Howeidy explains the need to “fix politics” first in order to solve the economic crisis.
مخاوف برلمان 150..لماذا تلجأ الحكومة "لإضاعة الوقت" في قوانين الأزمات؟ As the Egyptian parliament celebrates its 150-year anniversary, Aswat Masriya examines the important laws to be adopted by the parliament.
مصر وروسيا: مناورات «الصداقة» For the first time on its soil, Egypt will hold joint military exercises with Russia within the framework of “combatting terrorism” in mid-October.
مصر تؤمن بديلاً للنفط السعودي Following Aramco suspension of oil supply for October, Egypt secures the needed amount of oil from foreign suppliers.
مصر والتصويت المزدوج في مجلس الأمن.. لماذا؟ Assafir examines the effects of Egypt’s support for the Russian and French UN resolutions on Egypt-Saudi relations.
بعد إلغاء حكم حبسه 15 عاما.. الجنايات تبدأ السبت إعادة محاكمة ضابط الشرطة المتهم بقتل الشهيدة «شيماء الصباغ» The Cairo Criminal Court will review the trial of police officer charged with the murder of Shaimaa al-Sabbagh.
211 حقوقيا ونقابيا ومنظمة يطالبون بالإفراج الفوري عن عمال الترسانة البحرية والنقل العام: افرجوا عنهم ونفذوا مطالبهم A statement of solidarity was issued from different political and activist groups calling for the release of the detained workers of the navy arsenal and public transportation authority.
إنفوجراف.. «صحفيون ضد التعذيب»: 106 حالة انتهاك ضد صحفيين في 3 أشهر.. احتجاز وضرب ومحاكمات.. والداخلية على رأس المعتدين Journalists Against Torture reports106 violations against journalists in Egypt during the past three months.
الخيال خلف القضبان.. الروائي أحمد ناجي يكمل 235 يوما في طره بتهمة «خدش الحياء».. ومحاميه: ننتظر جلسة النقض منذ ابريل After being sentenced two-year prison for “violating public modesty,” Ahmed Naji’s lawyer calls for the need to appeal on the basis of the Article 67 of the Egyptian constitution, which guarantees freedom of artistic and literary creation.
مصر والسعودية في أسبوع.. من تصويت القاهرة لصالح قرار موسكو إلى وقف الشحنات البترولية وحتى مغادرة سفير المملكة: أزمة في الأفق The article discusses the economic and political consequences of Egypt`s decision to vote in favor of the Russian UN resolution on Egyptian-Saudi relations.
«الشيحي» عن «إلغاء خانة الديانة»: لا يوجد ورقة واحدة تطلب ذلك.. و«كفاية فتنة» Following Cairo University statement that it would remove the “religious identity” field from all student and faculty identification documents, the minister of higher education denies that university affiliates had ever been officially required to disclose their religion.
سائق توك توك جذب4 ملايين مشاهد ويبحث عنه رئيس وزراء مصر Video of tuk-tuk driver criticizing the Egyptian government for the dire economic situation goes viral on social media after being aired on television
قيود جديدة لقضاة مصر: منع التواصل الإعلامي والحديث السياسي The State Council bans judges from making statements to media.
مطالبات بوقف تنفيذ عقوبة الإعدام لمدة خمس سنوات A group of activists and citizens call for the abolition of death penalty for five years until an agreement from all components of Egyptian civil society is reached.
نشطاء يردون على طلب السيسي «ماتكلوش وما تناموش طلبا للاستقلال»: «هي الناس لاقيه تاكل أصلا… طيب ما تجربو انتوا» Sisi’s comments calling Egyptians to not eat nor sleep in order to achieve national independence sparks cynical responses on social media.