[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
EIPR report: Targeting of North Sinai Copts leads to forced displacement, not voluntary departure The ongoing targeting of Coptic Christians in North Sinai by militants has lead to multiple cases of “forced displacement … which cannot be downplayed as incidents of voluntary departure or mass migration to escape an armed conflict,” according to a report issued by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights on Tuesday.
Court to probe Rabea defendants’ allegations of prison abuse, including photojournalist Shawkan A Cairo criminal court ordered an investigation on Saturday into allegations by defendants in the Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in dispersal case of mistreatment in prison.
Former head of Egypt`s Journalists Syndicate Yehia Kalash appeals suspended sentence The former head of Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate, Yehia Kalash, has appealed to the Court of Cassation against a one-year suspended prison sentence issued against him and Khaled al-Balshy, a former syndicate board member, and current syndicate board member Gamal Abdel-Rehim
Novelist Ahmed Naji wins appeal against two-year sentence, court orders retrial Novelist Ahmed Naji has won an appeal against his two-year prison sentence for publishing material of a sexually provocative nature, with a court ordering a retrial of the case.
Dostour Party member referred to trial, Bread and Freedom Party member arrested for insulting president The Port Said prosecution referred Dostour Party member Ahmed Hefny to court on Tuesday, four days after he was arrested and held pending investigations for a number of charges, including insulting the president, misuse of social media and belonging to an outlawed organization, according to lawyer and party member Tarek Hussein.
Police arrest 28 for critical social media posts in nationwide crackdown Police have arrested an estimated twenty-eight activists and young members of several political parties in a sweeping security crackdown across several governorates.
48 referred to military court for involvement in Egypt`s Palm Sunday deadly bombings Egypt`s general prosecution referred on Sunday forty-eight defendants to military court on charges of involvement in three recent deadly church bombings in Egypt, according to a statement by Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek.
Egypt`s general prosecutor refers 14 to criminal court over plot to assassinate political, security figures Egypt’s general prosecutor referred to criminal court on Friday fourteen people charged with forming a terrorist cell that aimed to carry out assassinations on political and security figures.
Eight Brotherhood members referred to Egypt`s Grand Mufti for opinion on death sentences in Beheira police station case An Egypt criminal court ordered that eight members of the now banned Muslim Brotherhood be referred to the country`s Grand Mufti, in a preliminary step before the death sentences against the defendants can be finalised. The eight are convicted of attacking a police station in Nile Delta`s Beheira governorate.
Hussein Salem acquitted of squandering public funds in Israeli gas deal Business tycoon Hussein Salem was acquitted on Thursday by Cairo Criminal Court of charges of squandering public funds in the retrial of a case stemming from allegations that his company had sold natural gas to Israel at below market rates.
Housing minister sentenced for failing to uphold judicial verdict Housing Minister Mostafa Madbuly was sentenced to one year in prison on Wednesday, in a decision which also demanded his removal from office for failing to uphold an earlier verdict relating to the reinstatement of a former ministry employee. However, with a slew of ministers previously facing and avoiding similar charges, it is questionable whether the verdict will be enforced.
Egypt reclaims 421 feddans of state land illegally appropriated by private parties: Ministry Egypt’s interior ministry announced on Wednesday the reclaiming of 421 feddans of state-owned land that had been illegally appropriated by private parties in recent decades.
Egypt`s PM gives governors 30 May deadline to reclaim all land stolen from the state Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has given governors a deadline of 30 May for reclaiming state-owned land that was illegally appropriated by private parties in recent decades.
351 migrants arrested crossing southern, western borders in recent weeks: Egyptian military Egypt`s armed forces have said they arrested of 351 “illegal migrants” of varying nationalities between 25 April and 12 May in the country’s western and southern border regions.
`2014 constitution gave Egyptian women unprecedented rights,` social solidarity minister tells int`l forum Egypt`s 2014 constitution gave women “unprecedented rights,” granting 89 parliamentary seats to female MPs and allocating twenty-five percent of local seats to women in municipal elections, social solidarity minister Ghada Waly said at the International Women’s Forum in Stockholm on Saturday.
Economy
3×3 on Egypt’s new investment law: Conflicts in governance and challenges to development Three voices each answer three questions to map the dynamics that will determine the impact of the new investment law.
Egypt’s Sisi discusses price increases, gas discoveries and state projects in interview with state newspapers Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi sat for an interview on Tuesday with the chief editors of Egypt’s public newspapers Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhoriya to discuss the current challenges facing the country and the progress of developmental projects.
Foreign Relations
Egypt`s President Sisi meets with Trump ahead of Riyadh summits Egypt`s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with President Donald Trump in Riyadh on Sunday morning.
US support of Egypt in fighting terrorism is `firm, ongoing and eager`: US ambassador Beecroft The United States ambassador to Egypt Stephen Beecroft said on Sunday that his country’s support of Egypt in its fight against terrorism is “firm, ongoing and eager.”
Egypt`s Sisi meets with Iraq`s President Masoum on sidelines of Riyadh summit Egypt`s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Masum on Sunday, on the sidelines of the Arab Islamic American Summit, held in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Eradicating terrorism requires ending financial and ideological support for terrorists, Sisi tells Riyadh summit Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi told the Arab Islamic American Conference in Riyadh on Sunday that eradicating terrorism means putting an end to sources of financial and ideological support for terrorists.
Egypt`s FM heads to Greece on Monday for Rhodes confererence on security Egypt`s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry heads to Greece on Monday for a security conference with counterparts from various Mediterranean nations, according to a ministry statement.
Egypt`s Sisi receives Jordan`s Abdullah II in Cairo to discuss regional issues King Abdullah II of Jordan arrived on Wednesday for a one day visit to Cairo to discuss regional issues and cooperation with Egypt, as well as the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
Sudanese president: We remain patient despite Egypt’s occupation of Halayeb Triangle Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir asserted that Sudan continues to be patient with the Egyptian government despite its “occupation” of the Halayeb Triangle in a televised interview with Al Jazeera on Monday. Both countries have laid claim to the disputed area that lies on the Egyptian-Sudanese border.
Cairo says `technical issues` on Nile dam studies remain unresolved after tripartite committee meeting Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have not yet resolved points of contention over studies evaluating the potential impact of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam after a tripartite committee meeting to discuss the dam concluded on Tuesday, Egypt`s irrigation ministry said.
Domestic Security
Tribal recordings of alleged interrogation of Province of Sinai member sheds light on militant group’s structure YouTube channel Sinai Tribes Official published several audio recordings on Tuesday of a man speaking about various features of the Province of Sinai, in what is claimed to document the interrogation of a member of the Islamic State-affiliated militant group.
Egypt army discovers 10m-deep smuggling tunnel along North Sinai border Egyptian border guards have discovered a ten-metre-deep smuggling tunnel along the frontier region of North Sinai, while conducting counter-terrorism activities in the region, the army said.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
گيمر وبرتقال الوطن Ibrahim Mahfouz examines the significance of food as a means to express and preserve collective memory.
Arabic
في برلمان مصر، لجنة حقوق الإنسان ضد حقوق الإنسان Since its formation, the Human Rights Committee in parliament has failed to defend human rights.
بيان من الأسر المصرية المسيحية المهجرين من محافظة شمال سيناء إلى محافظة بورسعيد Egyptian Christian families displaced from North Sinai to Port Said Governorate issued a statement bringing attention to the hardship they have been enduring.
حول مشروع قانون التأمين الصحي الاجتماعي الشامل The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights provides a brief overview of the comprehensive health insurance bill and how to address some of its shortcomings.
موتٌ مُعلَنٌ" تقرير تحليلي عن وقائع القتل والتهجير القسري بحق أقباط العريش" The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights published an analytical report on enforced displacement and discrimination against Copts in North Sinai over the past six years.
انتفاضة في وجه واضعى اليد على أراضى الدولة.. والقاهرة تسترد 320 فدانا President Sisi’s decree to immediately restore all state lands illegally occupied to be enforced in May.
صفقة القرن و``تكفير المسيحيين`` ورسالة بشأن السودان.. أبرز 10 تصريحات للسيسي في حواره للصحف القومية The article compiles president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s controversial comments on foreign and domestic affairs as well as his position on the coming presidential elections.
"تجديد حبس 4 نشطاء بتهمة الإساءة للرئيس"على الإنترنت Al-Raml Prosecution renewed the detention of four activists for fifteen days over charges of insulting the president on the internet.
الأعلى للإعلام» يطالب السيسي بإحالة «انتهاكات السجون» للنائب العام« Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Press urged president Sisi to refer Muslim Brotherhood’s allegations of abuse in prison to the Public Prosecutor for investigations.
بالأسماء.. القبض على 28 من شباب الأحزاب The state has incarcerated twenty-eight Egyptian youth across the country amid a frenzied crackdown on political opponents, lawyer Khaled Ali announced.
باﻷرقام.. 50 % من أطفال مصر تحت خط الفقر Official statistics show that about fifty percent of Egypt’s children are living below poverty line.
اوقفوا القمع».. حملة على «آفاز» لمطالبة النظام المصري بوقف استهداف «فيسبوك»: لا تحرموا الشعب من حريته« Activists launched a campaign on Avaaz against Egypt’s social media restrictions law, demanding immediate end to arrests of cyber activists.
بيان لجامعة الأزهر: نتضامن وندعم «الطيب» في كل قراراته ومؤتمراته ضد الحملة الشرسة على المشيخة Al-Azhar issued a statement of support to the Grand Imam following the negative campaign against him, stressing the institute’s role in spreading moderate Islam.
يحيى دكروري.. سيرة قاضٍ ترويها أحكامه Mada Masr publishes the important decisions made throughout the career of Judge Yehya al-Dakrouri who is best known for a ruling declaring Tiran and Sanafir Egyptian.
يحدث في الخارجية: مساعي «الأجهزة» للهيمنة على الوزارة With generations of corrupt diplomats, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is under the control of the security apparatus.
«التعبئة والإحصاء»: انخفاض البطالة إلى 12%.. وباحثة: نسب الجهاز غير كافية للحكم على سوق العمل The Central Agency for Statistics and Public Mobilization announced Monday that unemployment rate reached twelve percent during the first quarter of 2017, a slight decrease compared to the prior year.
)الجريدة الرسمية تنشر قرارًا بشأن إجراءات انتخاب مجلس إدارة البورصة (نص كامل The Official Gazette published the Investment and International Cooperation Ministry’s decree on the regulations to elect members of the Egyptian Stock Exchange board of directors.
مصر تسلم إيطاليا مستندات مطلوبة عن ريجيني Egypt Prosecution submitted part of the documents required by Italian authorities on the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of the Italian student Julio Regeni in Cairo in early 2016.
"الأحد.. 9 مشروعات قوانين لتعديل "العقوبات" أمام "تشريعية النواب The parliament’s Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee will discuss Sunday nine bills on amending the provisions of the Penal Code.
الاثنين.. مناقشة موازنة المجلس القومي لحقوق الإنسان بالبرلمان The Human Rights Committee will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the draft budget of the National Council for Human Rights for the new fiscal year 2017/2018.
أدوات رقابية للبرلمان و"الاستجواب" بشروط.. هل استخدمها النواب؟7 The article examines how the parliamentary oversight operates in Egypt.
تأجيل محاكمة المتهمين في "مسجد الفتح" لـ4 يوليو Cairo Criminal Court postponed the trial of 494 defendants over violent incidents that took place after the dismantling of the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit in to 4 July.
»انتهاء التحقيقات مع المتهمين بتمويل تفجيرات الكنائس.. وترجيحات بإحالتهم لـ«العسكرى Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of six defendants for fifteen days under investigations accused of providing financial and logistic support to the three Egyptian churches bombers.
انتهاكات السجون تثير جدلا بين مؤسسات السيسي.. وحقوقيون يؤكدون وقوعها A chasm between state institutions has been widening over continued abuse and torture in Egyptian prisons.
مملكة "البوت".. ما وراء "اللجان الإلكترونية" The article analyses social media bots role behind the trending hashtags in Egypt.
بعد مرور عام.. كيف تعامل النظام المصري مع سقوط طائرة باريس؟ A look at how Egyptian authorities dealt with EgyptAir flight MS804 crash last year suggests that they have politicized investigations to serve the interest of the regime.