[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
Charges dropped against 20 NGOs yet ‘serious’ human rights orgs still targeted in long-running case
An investigative judge in a long-running case targeting non-governmental organizations in Egypt accused of illegally receiving foreign funding announced on Saturday that investigations into twenty NGOs have ended and no criminal cases will be pursued.
Egypt Releases EIPR Staff on Bail Following International Outcry
Egypt’s Public Prosecution ordered on Thursday evening the release on bail of three staff members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) weeks after their arrest.
Not for Amateurs: My friend Karim Ennarah
EIPR has been documenting an alarming surge in issuing and executing death penalties in regular criminal cases. Because the criminal justice system’s functioning and infrastructure is Karim’s primary focus, what concerned him the most was the normalization of these executions after a period of over ten years in which the state had been very conservative in carrying them out, even when death sentences were issued.
Court sets verdict date for EIPR asset freeze order after refusing to hear defense
A court session held on Tuesday to rule on the Public Prosecution’s order to freeze the assets of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights was adjourned to December 6, when the judge will issue his verdict, according to lawyer Ragia Omran, a member of EIPR’s defense team.
EIPR letter to Social Solidarity Minister following Cabinet approval of new NGO regulations last week
A Freeze of EIPR’s Assets and Multiple Legal Violations in Court
EIPR’s lawyers were not notified about the Public Prosecutor’s asset freeze order (No. 110/2020 in Case No. 855/ 2020) that was issued on November 28, and entered into force on November 29, prohibiting the disposal of EIPR funds, and only discovered it by accident.
Egypt’s government ratifies bylaws of new NGOs law
Egypt’s government has ratified, with immediate effect, the bylaws of the new law concerning non-government organizations (NGOs), Egyptian Cabinet Spokesperson Nader Saad announced Thursday evening.
Egypt criminal court sentences 12 defendants to prison in 2011 'cabinet clashes' trial
A Cairo Criminal court sentenced twelve defendants charged with incitement of violence and rioting to prison, including one for seven years, in the 2011 case commonly known as the "cabinet clashes" trial.
Rights Groups Hold the Authorities Accountable for the Life of Coptic Activist Ramy Kamel
The undersigned human rights organizations denounce Ramy’s continued arbitrary detention, in retaliation for his human rights work, locally and internationally, as a defender of Coptic rights in Egypt.
Cairo says Regeni killer still unknown, investigation to be suspended: Egyptian-Italian statement
Egypt's public prosecution will temporarily close investigations into the 2016 murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni, whose perpetrator is still unknown, according to a joint statement by the Egyptian and Italian prosecutions released on Monday.
The joint statement lacked a clear narrative or final resolution to the high profile case, which saw at least five security officials implicated in the brutal torture and murder of Regeni. Instead, it presented divergent paths for the contentious nearly five-year-long joint investigation that has seen Italian prosecutors repeatedly accuse Egyptian officials of deliberately trying to mislead the investigation.
Egypt’s COVID-19 contradiction: Fewer cases, higher death rate
After a rush of coronavirus patients overwhelmed Egypt’s healthcare system in the spring, the official number of new COVID-19 cases in the country calmed over the summer. Yet, the decline in new cases was not mirrored in the country’s daily number of deaths. As a result, Egypt’s overall death rate throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic is the seventh highest in the world.
Saqqara Photo Shoot Model Salma El Shimy Released on Bail
The South Giza prosecution office issued an order hours ago to release Egyptian model Salma El Shimy and photographer Hossam Mohamed, Youm7 reports. According to local media, bail has been set at 1,000 Egyptian pounds for each of the detainees, who face charges of shooting at the Saqqara Necropolis without a photography permit, Al Ahram reports.
1st stage of Egyptian parliament run-off election sees 20% percent voter turnout
More than five million people cast their vote in the run-off of the first stage of the Egyptian House of Representatives elections held earlier this month, representing 20.01 percent of the electorate, the National Elections Authority (NEA) said.
Egypt's Senate approves new internal bylaws
Following a three-hour debate, Egypt's 300-member Senate finally approved on Sunday the internal bylaws that will regulate its proceedings for the next five years.
European Court of Justice annuls freezing Mubarak family funds in Europe
The European Court of Justice on Thursday annulled sanctions imposed on the late Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his family members, involving freezing their assets.
Owner of Egypt's El-Tawheed & El-Nour stores arrested for allegedly financing terrorist group
Egyptian police arrested on Saturday Sayed Ragab El-Sewerky, the owner of El-Tawheed & El-Nour department stores, for allegedly financing a terrorist group.
Juhayna chairman detained for allegedly joining a terrorist group
An Egyptian prosecutor has ordered the fifteen-day detention of Safwan Sabet, the chairman of the country’s biggest dairy and juice producer Juhayna Food Industries, for joining a terrorist group.
Foreign Policy
Palestinian cause a priority for Cairo, Egypt's Sisi tells Abbas
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi conveyed to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday his “full support” for the PA's position on political reconciliation, a statement by the Egyptian presidency read.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that they consider the Palestinian cause a central issue for the Arab world and that both countries support an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Sisi, Trump discuss regional issues in phone call
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call from US President Donald Trump on Thursday evening.
Egypt, South Sudan exchange viewpoints on support to implementation of peace agreement
Egypt and South Sudan exchanged viewpoints on Cairo’s support to the efforts exerted in implementing peace agreement terms aiming at stability in the country, Egyptian Presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Jordan discuss latest developments in Syria
Egypt participated in an online consultative meeting with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in the Syrian crisis, the Egyptian foreign ministry announced.
FMs Shoukry, Al-Zayani criticise Qatari interception of 2 Bahraini vessels
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, crtiticised Qatar's interception of two Bahraini vessels last week in Bahraini waters.
Egypt FM Shoukry heads to Riyadh to chair Egyptian-Saudi political consultation committee
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry travelled to Riyadh on Tuesday morning to chair the Egyptian-Saudi political consultation committee, along with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.
Egypt's Sisi, Jordan's Abdullah discuss cooperation and situation in Palestine
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed on Sunday bilateral relations and the latest regional developments, at the top of which is the situation in Palestine, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
Egyptian, Greek naval forces carry out joint drill in Aegean Sea
Units from the Egyptian and Greek navies have carried out a maritime drill in the Aegean Sea, which is part of efforts by the Egyptian Armed Forces' general command to reinforce the exchange of expertise with the armed forces of friendly countries.
Economy
Eni reaches agreements with Egypt, Naturgy to restart operations at gas plant in Damietta
Italy’s Eni announced on Tuesday that it signed agreements with Egypt and Spanish company Naturgy to restart operations at a natural gas plant in the port city of Damietta after resolving long-running disputes.
Egypt's finance minister expects disbursal of $1.6 billion of IMF funding by end-December
Egypt expects to receive a 1.6 billion US dollars disbursal from the International Monetary Fund by end-December, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said on Monday.
Egypt's current account deficit widens to $11.2 billion in 2019/20
Egypt’s current account deficit mushroomed in the April-June quarter to 3.83 billion US dollars from 1.09 billion US dollars a year earlier, according to calculations by Reuters based on central bank figures released on Monday.
Egypt’s account deficit to hike to 5% of GDP in 2020: Fitch
Egypt's current account deficit is expected to expand to five percent of GDP in 2020, up from 3.1 percent in 2019, keeping pressure on foreign reserves that stood at 39.2 billion US dollars at the end of August, Fitch Ratings stated.
Egypt’s poverty rate declines to 29.7%: CAPMAS
Egypt’s poverty rate declined to 29.7 percent in FY 2019/2020, down from 32.5 percent two years earlier, according to the poverty, consumption, and income research conducted by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
EGP 7.3bn allocated to developing Egypt’s military production
Egypt’s Ministry of State for Military Production has developed an integrated plan to develop the country’s system of military manufacture, at a value of 7.3 billion Egyptian pounds.
Domestic Security
Egypt to establish two information stations to secure Nile River
The Egyptian Cabinet approved on Wednesday a decree from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to allocate two plots of land in which the government will build two information network stations on the Nile River.
Minister orders governors to enforce new closing times for shops, restaurants in Egypt
Egypt's Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy has ordered governors to enforce new closing times for commercial shops “firmly” starting Tuesday, with legal measures to be taken against violators.
Egypt completes security preparations for run-off parliament elections
Security patrols have been intensified as well as activating all checkpoints on major area. Effective linkage s also in place between all operating and follow-up rooms in various security directorates to monitor election security operations.
Arabic
Activist Abdel Rahman Moka has begun a hunger strike after renewal of his detention over new charges.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights called on Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity, Nevine Al-Kabbaj, to approve their demand to change EIPR status from a regular company to a non-profit organization in accordance with the new NGO law.
عودة "جيل المستقبل": حقوقيان ينتقدان "مناورة" استبعاد المنظمات العشرين من القضية 173
Activists criticize the recent closing of investigation into twenty NGOs accused of illegally receiving foreign funds.
انتهاكات حقوق المتهمين في القضية 855 لسنة 2020 أمن دولة
The article looks into the practice of “rotation” under case No. 855 of 2020, as part of the state’s crackdown on political prisoners.