[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 perceives the arrest of its Executive Director Gasser Abdel Razek as an attempt to put an end to organized and legitimate human rights work in Egypt.
Crackdown on EIPR sparks international condemnation
The arrests of three staff members of one of Egypt’s leading human rights groups, including its executive director, has sparked condemnation from rights organizations, international bodies, and governments around the world.
Crackdown on EIPR escalates with arrest of criminal justice director
In an escalating crackdown on one of Egypt’s leading human rights groups, National Security Agency officers arrested Karim Ennarah, the director of the criminal justice unit of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, at 2 pm on Wednesday while he was on vacation in Dahab in South Sinai and took him to an unknown location, according to a brief statement by the group.
EIPR: Staffer’s arrest a direct response to meeting with diplomats
The arrest of the administrative manager of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a flagship human rights organization, on Sunday night was a direct response by authorities to a meeting held at the group’s office earlier this month with various European diplomats and ambassadors to discuss the human rights situation in Egypt, according to the group’s executive director, Gasser Abdel Razek.
International condemnation of EIPR arrests continues to pour in
State Security Prosecution informed EIPR’s defense team that a hearing for the three recently detained staff members has been set for Monday morning, according to EIPR’s Twitter account.
Egypt rejects any attempt to influence investigations with EIPR staff: foreign ministry
Egypt’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that it "rejects" any false speculations or conclusions on the investigation of a number of employees at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) especially since the investigation has not yet come to an end.
Egypt's Mostaqbal Watan-led coalition wins half of new parliament's seats
Results announced by Egypt's National Elections Authority on Sunday showed that the pro-government Mostaqbal Watan (Nation's Future) party-led coalition was easily able to win 284 seats reserved to four-party list districts in the two-stage polls.
Egyptian expats to print ballot papers starting Thursday for 1st stage of parliamentary run-offs
Egyptian expats will be able to print their ballot papers for the run-off of the House of Representatives’ first stage of elections on 19-20November, with ballots to be sent to embassies on 21-23November, a statement by the foreign ministry read on Tuesday.
Foreign Policy
Cairo reprimands Paris for ‘interference’ after Egyptian activist arrested
The Egyptian foreign ministry reprimanded on Wednesday a statement by its French counterpart commenting on Egypt’s arrest of a human rights activist, saying it represents an interference in the Egyptian domestic affairs.
Egypt denounces Israel's plan to build 1,257 settlement units near East Jerusalem
Egypt’s foreign ministry denounced on Sunday Israel’s decision to receive contractor bids to build 1,257 new settlement units, fearing it can isolate East Jerusalem, a ministry statement read.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to hold new round of GERD talks 'within next few days'
Egypt has expressed its aspiration to participate in the next round of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations that “will be held during the next few days,” so as to reach a fair and balanced agreement that achieves the common interests of Cairo, Khartoum, and Addis Ababa, and preserves their water rights.
Egypt, Sudan sign MoU on military production fields
Egypt's Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsi witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the National Organization for Military Production (NOMP) and Sudan’s Military Industry Corporation (MIC) in various manufacturing fields, the ministry of military production announced on Friday.
Egypt’s Army Chief of Staff attends Egyptian-Sudanese ‘Nile Eagles 1’ military drill
Egypt’s Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid and Sudanese Armed Forces Chief of Staff Colonel General Mohamed Othman al-Hussein attended the main phase of the Egyptian-Sudanese “Nile Eagles 1” military drill, the Egyptian armed forces said on Friday.
Egypt’s Sisi discusses Libya developments with Italian PM in phone call
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed a number of issues on Friday, with the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, above them the latest developments in Libya, the Egyptian presidency said.
Egypt, France naval forces carry out joint maritime drill in Mediterranean
Egyptian and French naval forces have carried out a maritime drill in the northern fleet region in the Mediterranean, which involved the participation of the Egyptian frigate Taba and the French frigate Languedoc.
Egyptian, Russian navies carrying out Friendship Bridge 3 drills in Black Sea
A number of Egyptian naval vessels participating in the Egyptian-Russian maritime drill dubbed Friendship Bridge 3 have crossed the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits on their way to the Black Sea, the Egyptian Armed Forces said on Monday.
Egyptian FM, Arab parliament speaker discuss bolstering joint Arab mechanism in combating terrorism
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Arab Parliament speaker Adel Abdul-Rahman al-Asoumi discussed the role of the legislative body in bolstering joint Arab mechanisms to consolidate peace and security in the region and fight terrorism and extremism.
Economy
Egypt's Suez Canal October revenue $490.2 million, up month-on-month: Cabinet
Egypt’s Suez Canal revenue rose to 490.2 million US dollars in October from 470.7 million US dollars in September, the cabinet said on Thursday.
IMF reaches staff-level agreement with Egypt upon first review of $5.2 bln financing agreement
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday it had reached a staff-level agreement with Egypt after the first review of a 5.2 billion US dollars financing agreement.
Egypt's CBE extends maturity of US bonds repurchase by 1.5 years
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has agreed to extend the term of the US dollar bonds repurchase by 1.5 years from the original 4.5-year term, increasing the overall maturity of these bonds to six years, CBE announced on Monday.
Egypt’s unemployment rate declines for the second time Q-o-Q, reaching to 7.3%: CAPMAS
Egypt’s unemployment rate declined to 7.3 percent in the third quarter of 2020, down from 7.8 percent in the same quarter of 2019, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced Sunday.
Misr Cement Co. (Qena) consolidated net profits surged to EGP 45.1 mln in Q3 of 2020
Misr Cement Co. (Qena), listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange EGX as MCQE, witnessed an increase in its net profits in the third quarter of 2020 to reach 39.20 million Egyptian pounds, up from 29.70 million Egyptian pounds in the same quarter of 2019.
Domestic Security
Limited explosion hits Egypt's gas pipeline in North Sinai
A limited explosion has taken place in the gas pipeline in North Sinai's Sabika area, ten kilometres west of al-Midan, the army spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.
Coronavirus deaths among Egyptian doctors rise to 200: Medical Syndicate
The coronavirus death toll among Egyptian doctors has reached two hundred, the country’s Medical Syndicate said on Monday, after an orthopedic doctor passed away in Alexandria after contracting the virus.
From Jadaliyya
Statement in Support of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
The undersigned scholars and human rights advocates express our deep concern at the escalating crackdown that Egyptian authorities have launched against civil society organizations in recent days.
Cairo’s Sanitary Engineers: Debating Growth and Efficiency
Shehab Fakhry Ismail examines debates among sanitary engineers in Cairo during the British colonial period.
Gehood Zateya: Incremental Infrastructure from Below
Noura Wahby discusses the notions of traditional engineering and urban infrastructure used by the state by exploring bottom-up water governance practices in two northeastern districts in Cairo.
الاتحاد الأوروبي ومصر. شراكة تنتهك القيم الأساسية
The article examines EU-Egypt relations over the past few years.
Arabic
في تصعيد غير مسبوق: نيابة أمن الدولة تأمر بحبس المدير الإداري بالمبادرة المصرية
In an unprecedented escalation for the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, security forces arrested Mohamed Bashseer, the administrative manager at EIPR from his home, accusing him of “joining a terrorist organization” and “broadcasting false news that seeks to damage public order and harm the national interest.”
إدانات دولية ومحلية بعد القبض على المدير التنفيذي للمبادرة المصرية للحقوق الشخصية
International organizations called on the Egyptian authorities to immediately release EIPR staff, denouncing the state’s crackdown on rights activists.
المبادرة المصرية: النيابة تُخلي سبيل محمد أشرف صاحب فيديو تقليد مذيعي إذاعة القرآن الكريم
Cairo Appeal Prosecution ordered the release of comedian Mohamed Ashraf who was charged with “contempt of religion” for “disparaging” the state’s religious radio.
لعنة التدوير.. محام: اتهام النقابي العمالي رشاد كمال و6 آخرين في قضية جديدة وحبسهم 15 يوما
State Security Prosecution ordered detention renewal for syndicate member Rashad Kamal and six other defendants for fifteen days in the case N. 1056 of 2020.
«الحكومة» توافق على مجموعة من القرارات والقوانين (تعرف عليها)
The cabinet announced a number of decrees on the establishment of a supreme authority dedicated to address international arbitration cases.
Egyptian petroleum workers to receive annual bonus payments, according to the Center for Trade Union and Workers' Services.