[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 MPs denounce European Parliament's 'flawed statement' on detained activist Patrick Zaki
Egypt's prosecutor-general said in a statement that activist Patrick Zaki faces accusations of spreading incorrect and flawed statements that can disrupt Egypt's internal social peace and security
Egypt's general prosecutor has said an Egyptian researcher arrested earlier this month will remain in custody over "broadcasting false news" and "disturbing security and social peace," a statement from the prosecutor's office read.
Mansoura II Misdemeanours Appeal Court rejects appeal against Patrick Zaki’s detention
EIPR demands the immediate release of Patrick George Zaki without pressing charges, and calls for an investigation into his torture and ill-treatment.
Egypt’s Cairo Criminal Court sentenced the brother of Mubarak-era Finance Minister Youssef Botros Ghaly and others to thirty years in prison over two cases related to smuggling Egyptian artefacts to Europe.
After years of legal limbo, civil society workers set to receive court decision in April
On Saturday the Cairo Criminal Court said it would rule on the appeal brought by fourteen civil society workers, lawyers, and activists against their state-imposed travel bans at its next hearing, scheduled for 23 April. This would be the first adjudicated court decision for the plaintiffs, most of whom have had their assets frozen in connection with the case known as the “civil society organizations case,” in which none of them have been tried.
Trial of 215 MB defendants in 'Helwan Brigades' case adjourned till March 2
The Cairo Criminal Court on Monday adjourned until 2 March the trial of 215 members of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood (MB) group in the case known in the media as "Helwan Brigades."
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights has released a legal paper entitled “Your Phone and ID,” as part of a project entitled “routine assaults on private life” documenting the normalization of practices that strip citizens of constitutional protections as a pre-emptive security measure.
Egypt's Parliament to resume general session Sunday
The House of Representatives will resume its session on Sunday for three consecutive days to discuss three draft laws most of whose provisions have been approved, in addition to bills that were referred by the government and deputies to specialized committees for endorsement.
Foreign Policy
Egypt's FM underlines necessity of restoring legitimacy to Libya's institutions
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has underlined the necessity of restoring the legitimacy of Libyan institutions, including the reconstitution of the Presidential Council.
Final agreement on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to be signed by end of Feb: Joint statement
Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have agreed to entrust the United States and the World Bank with the preparation of the final agreement on the filling and operation of Addis Ababa's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), according to a statement by the five parties, following the latest round of negotiations which concluded in Washington on Thursday.
Sources: US-proposed GERD deal sets Ethiopia water release at 37 bcm, major disputes remain
A draft agreement prepared by the United States and the World Bank regarding the construction and filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is expected to be sent to Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan on Monday, according to a source in an international development organization close to the talks. The three sides will have around three days to review the terms and send their comments back to US officials, the source says.
Economy
Drilling of seven wells at Egypt's WDDM Phase 9B to add 236 bcf/d in gas reserves
The drilling of seven wells at West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) phase 9B is set to produce initial reserves of 236 billion cubic feet of gas, a statement by the oil ministry said.
Egypt's unemployment increased by 0.2 percent in Q4 2019: CAPMAS
The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) said on Saturday that the unemployment rate in Egypt went up by 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 to reach 8 percent of the workforce, compared to 7.8 percent in the third quarter of the same year.
Egypt central bank seen keeping key interest rates steady
Egypt’s annual urban consumer inflation rose to 7.2 percent in January from 7.1 percent in December after falling to as low as 3.1 percent in October, its lowest since December 2005.
Egypt’s Sisi opens new factories under Ministry of Military Production
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi opened on Monday “military factory 300,” which is affiliated with the Ministry of Military Production’s Abu Zabaal Company for Specialized Industries.
Domestic Security
Province of Sinai storms army checkpoint in Sheikh Zuwayed, forcing military retreat
Seven soldiers were killed and another seven injured in a coordinated attack by Province of Sinai—the Islamic State affiliate in the peninsula—on three army checkpoints in North Sinai on Sunday.
Muslim Brotherhood formed 13 terrorist groups in Egypt: NGO
An Egyptian human rights group issued a report on Monday stating that the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group is behind establishing thirteen armed movements that carried out terrorist attacks in Egypt between 2013 and 2019.
Militant cell linked to Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt accused of plotting attack in Khartoum
At least one Egyptian national was arrested last Tuesday in Khartoum in an operation targeting what Sudanese security forces described as a “terrorist cell.” The Sudanese public prosecution has accused the group, made up of Sudanese and foreign nationals, of planning to conduct attacks in the Sudanese capital.
Arabic
تبعات «كورونا» في مصر: توقعات بنقص في الدواء وانخفاض أسعار الزيوت
.The article discusses the repercussions of the Coronavirus crisis on Egypt's health system
نقابة الأطباء: عود ثقاب في نفق مظلم
.The article examines the general performance of the Journalists Syndicate over the past years
قضية جديدة إلى جانب "الأمل": محاكمة زياد العليمي بعد بلاغ يتهمه بـ "تحدي الرئيس”
.The article reports on the developments in the arbitrary detention of the human rights lawyer Ziad al-Eleimy
"نصف يوم سجن": عزيزة الطويل وحوار عن حكم تنفيذ المراقبة الشرطيّة في المنزل
The article discusses the provisional measures on prisoners who were granted release with provisional measures.
اتهام شادي أبو زيد بـ"الاجتماع بعناصر إثارية داخل السجن".. والدفاع يطعن بالتزوير
After the court ordered the release of Egyptian YouTuber Shady Abu Zeid who, according to his lawyer Mokhtar Mounir, was arrested last May under “spreading false news and joining an unlawful group,” the judge accepted the prosecution’s appeal to resume his detention for forty-five days.