[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
Egypt: Citizens’ lack of trust in the justice system is the real danger
All defendants in the Hope Coalition Case (no. 930 of 2019) had their detention renewed–for an additional forty-five days–on Thursday 28 November, following three days of hearings in the Cairo Criminal Court.
Egypt Approves Law to Grant Foreigners Egyptian Nationality Under Conditions of Investment
On Tuesday, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s cabinet approved a draft decision related to parliament’s Law 190 which would grant foreigners citizenship to Egypt, in special cases where they meet certain investment conditions.
Key steps taken by Egypt to improve human rights conditions: Foreign ministry
The ministry said that the government is finalizing work to launch the Permanent Supreme Committee for Human Rights which will be responsible for drafting a comprehensive national strategy for human rights.
Egyptian lawmaker renews call for banning face veils
An Egyptian lawmaker has called for a full ban on the niqab, or the face veil, in Egypt, reviving a longstanding debate over whether outlawing face veils would be a violation of religious freedom.
Egypt's parliament to discuss local council law 'very soon': Speaker
Egypt's parliamentary speaker Ali Abdel-Aal has said that the House of Representatives will soon discuss a long-awaited law aimed at regulating local councils.
Egypt's controversial supply minister faces new attacks in parliament
Egypt's parliament renewed attacks against the government of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for the second day in a row. On Monday, MPs singled out supply minister Ali Moselhi, accusing him of issuing non-politicised statements and directing insults to the Egyptian people.
Woes of an ordinary journalist
Mada Masr journalist, Rana Mamdouh, talks about being targeted by national security.
Al-Azhar’s Role in Freedom of Belief in Egypt
“Today, there is no freedom, especially the freedom of religion. The Ministry of Religious Endowments will not allow unlicensed preachers to give sermons at mosques. We are the sole competent authority to decide on this matter.” This was the answer of Muhammad Abdel Razeq, former undersecretary to the minister of religious endowments for mosque affairs, in response to a question about allowing Salafist clerics to deliver sermons at mosques.
Ramy Kamel, Mada Masr, and Seeing Coptic Issues as Civil Liberties in Egypt
Kamel himself advocates for other issues in addition to Coptic rights, including urban housing and investment projects in Cairo. His activism represents an impassioned and longstanding fight for citizenship rights and critique of Sisi’s authoritarian turn, earning the respect of many of his colleagues who are currently generating awareness of his arrest and calling for his release from prison.
“Freedom for the Black Gown”: Egypt’s Crackdown on Lawyers and the Rule of Law
In 2016, Egyptian human rights lawyers launched “Freedom for the Black Gown,” a campaign dedicated to highlighting the ongoing crackdown that had expanded to include the legal community.
Foreign Policy
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan issue joint statement on details of coming GERD talks
Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia released a joint statement on the latest developments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations on Monday which outlined in detail the path for the second round of talks, set to take place in Khartoum and Addis Ababa during the next few weeks.
Sisi, Abbas discuss latest developments in Palestinian issue
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the second day of the third edition of the World Youth Forum in the Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh.
FM Shoukry: Egypt seeks to promote relations with Namibia, Somalia
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has said Egypt is looking forward to enhancing its relations with Namibia at all levels in the coming phase, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said.
Political solution to Libya crisis expected within 'few months,' Egypt's Sisi tells Aswan forum
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said that a comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Libya could be reached in the coming few months.
Egypt's defence minister, Montenegrin counterpart discuss military cooperation
Egypt's Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki discussed military cooperation with Montenegrin Minister of Defence and Military Production Predrag Bošković on Monday in Cairo, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced.
Economy
Egypt’s plan to sell stakes in twenty-three state-owned companies as part of its state privatization program has stalled for nearly two years, with a series of announced sales by the government repeatedly falling through. Analysts blame bad market conditions and weak company results for the delays.
Egypt discusses development of Abu Qir line and Raml tramway with AFD
Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir discussed with a delegation from Agence Française de Développement (AFD) on supporting several transport projects in Egypt, in the presence of the President and Leaderships of the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) and representatives of the Ministry of International Cooperation and Investment.
Egypt’s industry minister rejects imposing 30% protection tax on imported paper
In a meeting held by parliament’s industrial committee on Sunday morning, local paper producers teamed up to press for imposing a thirty-percent protection tax on imported paper, a proposal that was rejected by the Minister of Trade and Industry Amr Nassar.
CBE announces LE50 billion support plan for Egypt’s tourism sector
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced on Sunday the largest financing plan to support the tourism industry, which includes increasing the value of its initiative to renovate and develop hotels from five billion Egyptian pounds to fifty billion Egyptian pounds.
Arabic
مصر | خطوة جديدة لتنفيس الغضب: مراجعات للإفراج عن معتقلين
The Egyptian authorities started reviewing demands for the release of political detainees.
محمد القصاص: لا تعويض عن 22 شهرًا في السجن
The article looks into the detention of Strong Egypt Party Vice President, Mohamed Al-Qasas.
أبرز المخاوف النسائية.. هل ينصف قانون الأحوال الشخصية المرأة المصرية؟
The article discusses the concerns of women rights activists over three bills to amend the personal status law.
مسلسل الحبس الاحتياطي.. سنوات من البحث عن بدائل احترازية
The article examines the legal debate on alternative procedures to pre-trial detention in Egypt.