[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
On not being there On Human Rights and solidarity in Egypt’s LGBT crisis.
Court annuls activist Douma’s life sentence and orders retrial, lawyers begin release proceduresThe Court of Cassation annulled a life sentence handed to imprisoned activist Ahmed Douma in a case related to Cabinet clashes in 2011, ordering a retrial with a criminal court. Procedures have commenced for Douma’s release, lawyer Khaled Ali told Mada Masr on Thursday.
Protest cases to be tried in regular, not military court: Egypt’s Constitutional Court Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court ruled on Saturday that protest-related cases fall under the jurisdiction of the regular judiciary, not military courts.
Egyptian court sentences 8 to death, 50 to life in police station storming case The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced eight defendants accused of storming the Helwan Police Station in 2013 to death on Tuesday, over two months after they were given a preliminary sentence on 29 July, while another fifty defendants in the case were handed life sentences.
Egypt military court sentences 13 to death for deadly Farafra Oasis attack in 2014 An Egyptian military court sentenced on Wednesday thirteen defendants to death, including twelve in absentia, for involvement in a militant attack that killed at least twenty-one border guards in al-Farafra oasis in 2014
Blog: How we got used to the screams of those on death row On the International Day for the Defense of Life, Yara Sallam reflects on her prison experience that transformed the death penalty from an abstract concept to a daily threat.
Egypt's Moushira Khattab invited to address parliament on UNESCO campaign Egypt's parliament invited on Saturday Moushira Khattab, the country's candidate who contested last week's elections for the post of director-general of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to address the foreign affairs committee on her election campaign.
Egypt's Sisi issues decree forming National Electoral Commission Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi issued Tuesday a decree forming the board of the National Electoral Commission, which will be in charge of supervising all national elections and referendums.
Egypt parliament's defence committee recommends President Sisi runs for second four-year term Kamal Amer, head of parliament's defence and national security committee, revealed Monday that members of the committee have prepared a message of "appreciation, confidence and support" to send to Egypt's president Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.
'New anti-corruption law should improve Egypt's position on anti-corruption index,' speaker tells MPs Egypt's parliament approved on Tuesday amendments to the law regulating the Administrative Watchdog Authority, which is in charge of fighting corruption.
Egypt's PM issues decree referring security and economic crimes to state security emergency courts Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has issued a decree stipulating that several crimes in breach of certain security and economic laws will be referred to state security emergency courts so long as Egypt maintains it national state of emergency.
President Sisi receives Egypt's football team as it celebrates qualifying for World Cup 2018 Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi received the Egyptian national football team at Cairo's al-Ittihadeya Palace on Monday, following Sunday's victory, which put Egypt through to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990.
Economy
Al-Sisi attends graduation ceremony of first batch of Future Technology Pioneers initiative President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi witnessed on Sunday the graduation ceremony of the Future Technology Pioneers initiative.
Inflation eases in September but Egyptians’ purchasing power continues to fall Egypt’s annual inflation rate has eased for the second consecutive month, reaching 32.9 percent in September, down from 33.2 percent in August, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization announced on Tuesday. September’s monthly inflation reached one percent, compared to 1.2 percent in August.
We will consider amending rate of some tax transactions in current FY: El-Monayer Deputy Minister of Finance for Tax Policy Amr al-Monayer said that the current fiscal year is expected to witness a change in tax rates on some tax transactions.
Attractiveness of food sector resists profitability margins decline A number of investors has agreed that the food sector is still attractive for investment despite the decline in profitability margins under the pressure of flotation in November.
Foreign Relations
Egyptian candidate loses UNESCO vote, France and Qatar to compete in final round Egyptian candidate Moushira Khattab was eliminated from the race to become Director-General of UNESCO in a runoff vote on Friday against the French candidate.
Egypt says 'question marks' hang over Qatar's first-round victory in vote for UNESCO chief Foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid told state TV on Monday that some African nations who had committed to voting for Egyptian candidate Moushira Khattab had likely voted against him in the first round.
Egypt and Qatar in diplomatic tiff over Gulf support for UNESCO candidates The disappointment and anger was palpable in the office of Moushira Khattab, Egypt’s candidate for position of director general of UNESCO, as results from the first day of voting rolled in on Monday, with Khattab in an unexpected third place.
Egypt's Sisi thanks Saudi Arabia for supporting Moushira Khattab in UNESCO leadership bid Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has thanked Saudi Arabia for supporting Egyptian candidate Moushira Khattab in voting for the new UNESCO director-general on Saturday.
Information ministers of Qatar-boycotting countries to hold meeting in Bahrain The information ministers of Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are set to hold talks about their ongoing diplomatic boycott of Qatar in Manama on 25 October.
Egypt's Defence Minister meets with EU Military Committee chair in Cairo Egypt's Minister of Defense, Sedky Sobhi, met in Cairo on Thursday with General Mikhail Kostarakos, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, where they discussed the latest security and military developments in the Middle East, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced.
Egypt's FM Shoukry discusses Palestinian reconciliation with Jordanian counterpart Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke early on Sunday by telephone with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman al-Safadi about the latest developments concerning last week's Palestinian reconciliation agreement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced.
Rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas reach reconciliation deal in Cairo Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have reached a political reconciliation agreement after two days of Egyptian-brokered talks in Cairo, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement on Thursday.
Egypt shares Trump's concerns over Iran Middle East policies The foreign ministry reiterated on Saturday Egypt’s position that the Middle East should be clear of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, one day after United States President Donald Trump said he would not certify the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement to Congress.
Egypt condemns deadly bomb blasts in Somalia that killed over 180 people Egypt has condemned the two bomb blasts that struck the heart of Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Monday killing over 180 people.
Egypt launching tourism campaign with Italy's AS Roma club: Ministry Egypt’s tourism ministry said on Saturday that it will launch a promotional campaign with Italian football team AS Roma to attract Italian tourists to the country.
Domestic Security
Egyptian army fends off terrorist attack in North Sinai, 24 militants and six soldiers killed: Statement The army fended off a terror attack on a security checkpoint in the Kawadis area in North Sinai on Sunday, killing twenty-four militants, a statement by army spokesperson Tamer al-Refaei said.
6 soldiers killed in militant attack on North Sinai checkpoint Six soldiers were killed in a militant attack in the North Sinai city of Arish, announced the Armed Forces spokesperson on Friday.
Militants attack military-owned factory in North Sinai At least one person has been killed in a suicide attack on a military-owned North Sinai cement factory on Tuesday. The Province of Sinai has claimed responsibility for the incident, which is the latest in a slew of militant attacks targeting Armed Forces facilities in the area.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
مشروع ليلى وأزمة علم القوس قزح في مصر Dima Yassim analyzes the aftermath of the rainbow flag incident and its sociopolitical implications.
Arabic
»أبرزها «تبعية الهيئة لرئاسة الجمهورية».. ننشر «تعديلات قانون الرقابة الإدارية The government’s proposed amendments to the administrative control law under which the Administrative Control Authority is to be affiliated with the presidency is set to be reviewed by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
كر وفر واشتباكات بين الأمن وحملة الماجيستير أمام مجلس الوزراء Security forces broke up on Tuesday a demonstration of Masters and Doctoral degrees holders Coalition who graduated in 2014, 2015 and 2016 demanding employment in front of the Council of Ministers in Qasr Al Einy.
ممثلو 12 منظمة حقوقية يطالبون بتعديل قانون الجمعيات Representatives of twelve NGOs called for amendments to the controversial Associations Law, stressing that the law should guarantee civil liberties, in line with the provisions of Article 75 of the Egyptian Constitution.
تدشين حملة «يلا نبنى معا» لدعم السيسى لفترة رئاسية جديدة Members of Parliament launched "let’s build together" campaign supporting Sisi to run for a second presidential term.
»أحمد دومة.. 47 شهراً في السجن تنتهي بـ«إعادة المحاكمة The Cassation Court annulled on Thursday the life imprisonment ruling by the Criminal Court against activist Ahmed Douma and ordered retrial over the case commonly known as "Cabinet Clashes".
الحكومة توافق على قرض أوروبي بـ186 مليون يورو The Council of Ministers approved a 186 million euros loan for reconstruction and development from the European bank.
المصري اليوم» ترصد روايات مقتل الكاهن سمعان شحاتة« Al -Masry Al-Youm reports the narratives that have been circulating on the killing of Coptic priest Samaan Shehata on Thursday in Cairo.
)توقيع المصالحة الفلسطينية في القاهرة (فيديو Al-Masry Al-Youm publishes Cairo’s statement on Fatah and Hamas national reconciliation agreement signed in Egypt.
معلومات الوزراء» يوضح حقيقة وجود توتر بين مصر وروسيا« The Information and Decision Support Center denied the existence of tensions between Egypt and Russia.
"محمد زارع يفوز بجائزة "مارتن إينالز" لحقوق الإنسان ويعتبرها "رسالة من العالم للنظام Martin Ennals award winning Mhamed Zaree, a legal expert and human rights defender who is banned from travel, highlights the regime’s oppressive policies against human rights activists in Egypt.
يوميات صحفية برلمانية| نواب يطالبون بعودة الجماهير والعفو عن الألتراس Members of Parliament called for the release of Ultras fans in the parliament’s plenary session.
للمرة الثالثة.. مصر في قبضة الطوارئ حتى يناير 2018 Egypt’s Official Gazette issued Thursday the presidential decree 510 of 2017 extending the state of emergency for three months.
»برلمانيون: مد الطوارئ «دستوري».. ومقتضياته «قائمة MPs expressed their unwavering support for Sisi’s decree to extend the state of emergency in conformance with Egypt's Constitution, despite concerns that such decree comes as part of a wider crackdown on human rights.
»رئيس الوزراء يجدد إحالة قضايا التظاهر والإرهاب إلى «أمن الدولة طوارئ Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has taken a controversial decision by referring a number of cases to the Emergency Supreme State Security Courts, which cannot be appealed.
تشكيل الهيئة الوطنية للانتخابات.. تعرف على التفاصيل President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved the creation of the National Elections Board, which is responsible for the administration of referenda and elections in Egypt, including the 2018 presidential election.
»البرلمان اليوم| 4 موجات هجومية تطال الصحفيين والحقوقيين.. و«عبد العال» يصف الحكومة بـ«المرتخية Parliamentarians have deepened their assault on journalists, human rights activists and government officials, accusing them of damaging Egypt’s reputation.
الجيش المصري ينفّذ «مناورات عسكرية» قرب الحدود الليبية The Egyptian military carried out on Tuesday military exercises on the western borders with Libya, the Egyptian Ministry of Defense said.
انتخابات اليونسكو تكشف الحجم الحقيقي للعلاقات الخارجية المصرية Albadeel newspaper examines Egypt’s weight in world politics as Egypt supports Mushira Khattab’s candidacy for the leadership of UNESCO.
هموم الصحفيين أكبر من “البدلة”.. وتساؤلات عن دور النقابة The Head of Egypt's Supreme Council for Media called on journalists to not wear jeans and to abide by journalism dress code of conduct, sparking outrage among journalists.
رغم تراجع معدل التضخم في سبتمبر.. زيادة الأسعار تضعف قدرة المصريين على الشراء The annual rate of increase in consumer prices decreased to 32.9% in September, compared with 33.2% in August, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics announced on Tuesday.
»جدل حول مقترح السيسي إنشاء «مدينة العدالة Sisi's proposal to establish the City of Justice to facilitate legal proceedings where all judicial bodies will be located sparks controversy over the need to introduce reforms to ensure a functional and efficient judicial system.
»جراف| في أرقام «صحة المصريين النفسية Mada Masr publishes statistics on Egyptian mental health conducted by the Health Ministry.