[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
After over 950 days in prison, trial of Shawkan, 738 others postponed to April The trial of photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, better known as Shawkan, and 738 others was adjourned to 23 April on Saturday. Defendants in the case have now been in pretrial detention for over 950 days.
Court reviews recommendation to freeze Bahgat, Eid`s assets, case adjourned to April 20 A Cairo court reviewed a prior recommendation by an investigative judge to freeze the assets of leading human rights advocates Hossam Bahgat and Gamal Eid on Thursday, in a reopened case against a number of nongovernmental organizations and rights organizations that dates back to 2011.
Founder of leading feminist organization officially summoned in NGO foreign funding case Founder and director of Nazra for Feminist Studies Mozn Hassan was officially summoned in the reopened 2011 case against a number of nongovernmental organizations accused of receiving foreign funding, the organization said in a statement on Tuesday.
Int`l criticism of Egypt amid renewed crackdown on NGOs President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government is coming under increasing international criticism from politicians and human rights groups, amid a renewed crackdown on nongovernmental organizations.
Foreign Ministry fires back at international condemnation of reopened NGO case The Foreign Ministry has issued a statement defending the decision to reopen a 2011 case against local nongovernmental organizations accused of unlawfully accepting foreign funds.
Judge imposes gag order on NGO foreign funding case Investigating Judge Hesham Abdel Meguid issued a gag order on the recently reopened case against local nongovernmental organizations accused of unlawfully accepting foreign funds, the judge announced Monday evening.
After nearly 2 years in detention, Aya Hegazy`s trial postponed till May Cairo Criminal Court moved to adjourn the trial of Egyptian-American Aya Hegazy, her husband Mohamed Hassanein and six others, who faces charges ranging from running an unlicensed organization to child abuse, to 21 May.
Egyptian MP Haitham El-Hariri acquitted on charges of illegal protesting Alexandria member of parliament Haitham al-Hariri was acquitted on charges of illegal protesting on Saturday, though he said in press statements that his acquittal was “incomplete” as thousands remain behind bars on similar charges.
Anti-torture T-shirt detainee released after more than 2 years in jail After spending two years and nearly two months in jail, twenty-year-old Mahmoud Mohamed – popularly known as the "T-shirt detainee" – was released from detention on Tuesday with a 1,000 LE fine, pursuant to an order from South Cairo Criminal Court
Prosecution appeals decision to release torture T-shirt detainee East Cairo Prosecution appealed on Wednesday a decision to release twenty-year-old Mahmoud Mohamed, known as “the T-shirt detainee.”
Court rejects appeal against T-shirt detainee`s release The South Cairo Criminal Court has rejected the prosecution’s appeal against the release of Mahmoud Mohamed, the twenty-year-old arrested in 2014 for wearing an anti-torture T-shirt and a scarf with a logo commemorating the 25 January revolution.
Court rules to disband football association, Ahly club boards The Supreme Administrative Court ruled on Sunday that the governing boards of the Egyptian Football Association and al-Ahly Club should be disbanded.
Council upholds forced retirement for 15 judges accused of Brotherhood ties The High Disciplinary Council issued a final verdict upholding forced retirement for fifteen judges who founded the Judges for Egypt group, which is suspected of affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood.
6 police referred to court for death of detainee in 2012 torture case Six policemen were referred to court on Thursday for torturing a man who was wrongfully imprisoned to death in late 2012, according to a report by al-Haqanya Foundation of Rights and Freedoms.
10 new ministers appointed before Cabinet presents program to Parliament The spokesperson for Egypt’s Cabinet announced a ministerial reshuffle on Wednesday, including ten ministers and four deputy ministers.
ElBaradei`s name removed from Nobel prize winners in primary school books Egypt’s Education Ministry determined to remove former deputy Prime Minister and Nobel Prize winner Mohamed al-Baradei from the list of previous award winners in primary school books.
Economy
Petroleum Ministry denies problems with BG, Eni Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry denied reports that gas company BG has halted production and development of two stages of its offshore West Delta Deep Marine project. The statement comes as Egypt also faces reports that Eni, operator of the giant Zohr gas field, may be looking to reduce its stake in the project.
Rice supplies dwindle, prices rise despite production surplus The government is struggling to afford Egyptian-grown rice, leading to shortages, higher prices and lower-quality rice for Egyptians relying on food subsidies.
Egypt’s PM Sherif Ismail paints bleak picture of economy; vows to fight challenges Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail stated Sunday that Egypt is suffering from a severe economic crisis and that all local institutions should work hard to overcome it.
Foreign Relations
Italian investigators: Regeni case `far from closed` after Egypt`s MOI links to dead gang members Italian investigators examining the murder and torture of Italian student Giulio Regeni said the "case is not at all closed" on Friday, following a statement by Egypt`s Interior Ministry that they found Regeni`s identification documents in an apartment in Cairo as proof he may have been kidnapped by a gang.
Saudi Arabia agrees to finance Sinai development, petroleum purchases Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed several agreements during a Sunday meeting in Riyadh, including a 1.5 billion USD financing deal for development projects in the Sinai, and an agreement that will see Saudi Arabia finance Egypt’s petroleum needs for five years.
Hamas delegation returns to Cairo for more talks with Egypt A Hamas delegation returned to Cairo from Doha on Sunday to resume discussions with Egyptian officials in the second leg of talks on the future of the Islamist movement`s relationship with Egypt.
Egypt, UAE and US conclude Red Sea naval exercise Egypt, the United States and the United Arab Emirates concluded on Thursday a joint naval exercise in the Red Sea, according to a statement by Egypt`s military spokesperson Mohamed Samir.
Five agreements on education to be signed with China Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong will sign on Sunday five agreements related to education and scientific research in the two countries.
Domestic Security
Three Egyptian policemen `missing` since Saturday’s deadly North Sinai attack: Sources A policeman and two conscripts are still missing three days after their checkpoint in North Sinai was hit by a mortar attack launched by Islamist militants.
Egypt intensifies anti-terror operations after North Sinai bombing Egypt is escalating its counterterrorism operations after a car bomb killed at least fifteen security personnel in the North Sinai city of Arish on Saturday.
Egyptian army destroys North Sinai militant hideouts: Spokesman Egypt’s army destroyed a number of militant hideouts in troubled North Sinai’s Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid cities in raids on Friday morning, an army spokesman said.
Egyptian military kills 60 militants in North Sinai: Spokesman Egyptian armed forces killed sixty militants in North Sinai in raids on Thursday and Friday, the Egyptian army spokesperson has said.
Egypt`s military spokesperson says 380 kilos of explosives seized in North Sinai Egypt’s army has seized 380 kilograms of explosives, including TNT, in al-Mahager area at Halal Mountain in the North Sinai region, according to an official military spokesperson.
Bomb dismantled in Arish A bomb disposal unit has dismantled a bomb in Arish. No casualties have been reported.