[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's Court of Cassation upholds death penalty for 3 Brotherhood leaders in Rabaa dispersal case
Egypt’s Court of Cassation upheld on Monday the death penalty for twelve people, including three key leading members of the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood in the criminal case known as the Rabaa Dispersal Case.
EIPR Head Hossam Bahgat summoned to Public Prosecutor’s Office over 2020 tweet
Hossam Bahgat, Executive Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), has been summoned to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for a new criminal investigation. The new case (no. 35/2020) is based on a complaint filed by the National Election Commission’s acting president over a tweet Bahgat had written last year.
Egypt’s Court of Cassation upheld on Thursday the life sentences against several defendants convicted of bombing transmission towers in several governorates in 2014.
Dozens arrested protesting government evictions in Alexandria neighborhood
Thirteen residents of an Alexandria neighborhood arrested on Friday while taking part in a large protest against a government decision to forcibly evict them from their homes were ordered to be held in remand detention on Saturday, one of the detainees’ defense lawyers told Mada Masr.
One of the first doctors delegated to treat Palestinians injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza last month was brought before the State Security Prosecution on Wednesday, two weeks after he was forcibly disappeared.
Workers protest for compensation as Egyptian Iron & Steel furnaces extinguished
Ten workers at the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company were detained for two hours on Sunday after security forces dispersed 500 workers who demonstrated at the company’s main gate, a member of the company’s trade union committee told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity.
Egypt court sentences five students to prison over joining Daesh in Giza
Egypt’s Supreme State Security Criminal Court handed varying prison sentences to five students on Monday over charges of leading and joining the Daesh terrorist organization in Giza.
4 Egyptian officials sent to trial for 2016 kidnap, murder of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni
Four Egyptian officials will be tried in absentia in Italy for the 2016 murder of Giulio Regeni, after an Italian judge gave the green light on Tuesday.
Family of murdered Coptic man forced to leave North Sinai, faced online threats
Security forces asked Nabil’s family to leave North Sinai in January 2021. Now, Marina and ten of her family members live in a two-bedroom apartment. They are not allowed to return to Sinai, and their homes and possessions there are vulnerable to looting and theft, which many other Coptic families that had to leave the area have experienced, according to EIPR.
Egyptian TikTok influencer handed 3 years in jail for 'violating society values'
A Cairo economic court sentenced on Tuesday Renad Emad, a Tiktok influencer, for three years in prison for "violating society values and principles" via creating and posting "indecent" content on the video-sharing platform.
Egypt’s House approves in principle a bill allowing ‘non-disciplinary dismissal’ of public servants
The Legislative Committee of the Egyptian House of Representatives (the lower house of the parliament) approved, in principle, a bill allowing “non-disciplinary dismissal” of public servants, who were proved guilty of sabotaging act against the state.
Egypt to allow women on State Council, Public Prosecution starting October: Presidency
As per a presidential decision, Egyptian women can work at the State Council and the Public Prosecution for the first time in the country’s history starting 1 October, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a meeting with top judicial figures on Wednesday.
The undersigned organizations call for the immediate release of those detained in the Hope Coalition case (case no. 930 of 2019) and for the dismissal of all charges against them.
The undersigned organizations condemn the referral of researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy, a master's student at the Central European University in Austria (CEU), to the urgent trial before the Emergency Supreme State Security Court, in Case 774/2021. The undersigned organizations demand closing this case, and releasing Santawy immediately, so that he can resume his studies.
Egypt: President Should Act to Unshackle Freedoms
We the undersigned sixty-four organizations from around the world call on the Egyptian authorities, including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to take immediate action to end the Egyptian authorities’ wholesale crackdown on independent organizations and peaceful dissent.
Academic Freedom Under Fire: Egyptian Government Jails Ahmed Tohamy
Unidentified Egyptian security forces arrested Tohamy from his home on June 3, 2020. Prosecutors charged him with membership in an unnamed terrorist organization and spreading false information, without providing evidence of the charges or of a statutory justification to keep him detained. Tohamy has been in pretrial detention since then.
Egypt's parliament approves the country's new 2021/22 budget and socio-economic development plan
The overwhelming majority of Egyptian MPs have voted on Monday on approving the state’s new 2021/22 budget and socio-economic development plan. The approval came after a two-month discussion in hearing sessions held by the House’s committees.
Four Egyptian political parties declare their rejection of the country's 2021/22 budget
The four parties said the new budget discriminates against poor citizens who will suffer from higher prices and greater loss of subsidies in the new fiscal year.
Foreign Policy
Egypt’s FM Sameh Shoukry meets his counterpart in Doha, start round of official talks
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met, Monday Qatar Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed ben Abdul Rahman al Thani at the Qatari Foreign Ministry in Doha.
Egypt says GERD dispute needs four-party mediation; current path won't lead to breakthrough
Egypt's Irrigation Minister has said the current path of African Union (AU) sponsored negotiations between Cairo, Khartoum and Addis Ababa regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will not lead to a breakthrough, calling for widening the mediation to include the US, the EU, and the UN.
Egypt keen on resuming GERD negotiations with Sudan, Ethiopia: Irrigation minister
Egypt is keen to resume Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations with Sudan and Ethiopia, said Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel-Ati on Saturday, stressing Egypt’s rejection of any unilateral actions concerning the dam.
Egypt slams statements by Ethiopia PM on building over 100 dams; says they reveal 'ill intent'
Egypt slammed on Monday statements by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over a plan to build over 100 dams across the country, describing the statements as a continuation of “a regrettable approach” that disregards the rules of international law.
Egyptian officials: Sisi’s visit to Djibouti part of East Africa ‘charm offensive’
The visit, which is the first by an Egyptian head of state to Djibouti, is part of what two officials in Cairo familiar with the arrangements say is a “charm offensive” in the Horn of Africa, where Egypt has been at loggerheads with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the mega dam project on the Blue Nile and has been concerned over its relative lack of influence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, an area it considers its backyard both for potential resource management along the Nile and commercial trade in the waterway leading into the Suez Canal.
Egypt’s foreign policy on Israel and Palestine: Has there been a change?
Eleven days after the Israeli bombing of Gaza began — retribution for Palestinians’ resistance to the forced displacement of Palestinian residents from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah and the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque — Egypt and a host of regional and international partners brokered a ceasefire agreement between armed resistance factions in Gaza and the Israeli occupation.
Egypt-hosted Palestinian reconciliation talks falter over proposed agenda
Egypt-hosted talks between the Palestinian factions, the first meeting between the deeply divided political leaders of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since last month’s mass resistance movement against the Israeli occupation, have been postponed indefinitely due to disagreements between Hamas and Fatah, sources close to the talks told Mada Masr.
Rafah crossing remains open for 4th week to receive wounded Palestinians
Egyptian authorities on Sunday continued opening the Rafah border crossing for the 22nd consecutive day to allow stranded Palestinians and humanitarian cases on both sides to cross.
Egypt, France and Jordan call to stop unilateral actions hindering two state-solution
Egypt, France and Jordan on Thursday emphasized the importance of stopping any unilateral actions that hinder the two state-solution and the revival of the peace process in the Middle East.
Sisi stresses to European Council chief urgent need to revive Palestinian-Israeli talks
In a phone call with European Council President Charles Michel on Wednesday, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi affirmed the need to work urgently to resume direct negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Egypt, Jordan stress necessity of political framework for resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations
Egypt and Jordan stressed on Monday the importance of having in place a political framework that would allow for the resumption of negotiations between Palestine and Israel on the basis of a two-state solution.
Egypt condemns Houthi militia's 'treacherous missile attack' on Yemen's Marib city
Egypt condemned in the strongest terms the "treacherous missile attack" of the Houthi militia that targeted the Yemeni city of Marib on Saturday evening, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Egypt sends equipment to Gaza Strip for rebuilding process Friday
Egypt will send engineering equipment to the Gaza Strip via Rafah border crossing on Friday, as part of efforts to rebuild the Gaza Strip.
Egypt’s defence minister, army chief of staff discuss cooperation with Cypriot National Guard chief
Egypt’s Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki and Chief of Staff Mohamed Farid discussed cooperation with Cypriot armed forces as they met on Sunday with Demokritos Zervakis, the chief of the Cypriot National Guard.
Egyptian, French naval forces carry out passing exercise
Egyptian and French naval forces have carried out a joint passing exercise in the Northern Fleet Area of Responsibility in the Mediterranean.
Economy
The decision to impose a fourteen percent value-added tax (VAT) on online deliveries by restaurants and shops is necessary to achieve tax justice, the head of Egypt’s Tax Authority, Reda Abdel-Kader, said on Thursday.
Predatory, for-profit loans dominate Egypt’s microfinancing sector
A Mada Masr investigation into the microfinancing market found that women like Zahya — and according to official figures, women represent a majority of microloan recipients at sixty percent — have faced systematic predatory lending practices by agents who are incentivized to grant high-interest, high-risk loans to earn commission without ensuring a candidates’ ability to make monthly payments. In the face of the pandemic, many of these borrowers have defaulted on their microloans and faced the threat of imprisonment as a result.
President Sisi signs laws closing 2019-2020 final accounts of Egyptian associations
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday signed a number of laws that are related to the closing statements of some state bodies for the fiscal year 2019/2020.
Egypt’s PMI rises to 48.6 with improved signs in non-oil private sector: IHS
Egypt’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose from 47.7 in April to 48.6 in May, IHS Markit reported on Thursday. The PMI is a composite gauge that tracks the operating conditions in non-oil private sector economies.
Egypt, UN launch roadmap for strategic partnership (2023-27)
Egypt and the United Nations’ (UN) office in the country announced the establishment of the roadmap for the strategic partnership framework over four years (2023 to 2027), which aims to support the government of Egypt’s priorities in achieving economic and social development in line with the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Egypt’s NBE receives $100 mln from EBRD to support SMEs
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced it has handed 100 million US dollars loan to the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) to support the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Egypt PM lays foundation stone of SCZone’s $7.5 bln petrochemical complex
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly laid on Saturday the foundation stone of the Suez Canal Economic Zone's (SCZone) petrochemical complex built at an estimated cost of 7.5 billion US dollars.
Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) rejected on Saturday claims made by the giant Ever Given insurer UK Club, and said that exceeding set speeds at the country’s strategic canal is the sole responsibility of the ship captain.
Egyptian parliament approves a new law on sovereign bonds
Egypt’s parliament — the House of Representatives — approved on Sunday a new bill that will open the door for the government to issue Islamic Sharia-compliant sovereign bonds (Sukuk) on local and foreign markets.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt agree on suspending requirements for imported Egyptian agricultural crops
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have agreed on suspending requirements imposed by Riyadh on imports of Egyptian agricultural crops, with a Saudi delegation set to visit Cairo next week to inspect control measures on crops.
Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat mulled on Thursday with Acting Managing Director of Russian Railways International Sergey Stolyarov and his first deputy Sergie Pavlov joint cooperation in the field of transport.
Juhayna struggles on stock market following senior executives’ arrests
Juhayna, one of Egypt’s largest food product manufacturers, could face punitive measures on the Egyptian stock market for failing to submit financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year before the June 1 deadline, the Egyptian Exchange announced in a Tuesday statement.
Domestic Security
Egypt improved tools of countering money laundering, terrorist financing crimes: EMLCU head
Egypt has improved the tools needed for countering the crime of money laundering and terrorist financing, Ahmed Khalil, the chairman of the Egyptian Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Combating Unit (EMLCU), said.
Five people killed, 20 injured in road crash in Egypt’s New Valley
Five people were killed and twenty injured in a road accident in the New Valley governorate when a public transportation bus collided into a heavy truck early Monday morning.
Egypt completes pre-clinical trials of 3 COVID-19 vaccines; results 'very promising': Minister
Egypt has completed pre-clinical trials for efficacy and safety of three locally-made COVID-19 vaccines and is waiting for medical authorities' approval to start clinical trials on human volunteers, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said on TV on Tuesday.
Egypt Fully Vaccinates Tourism Workers in the Red Sea and South Sinai Governorates
The Ministry of Health and Population announced on Thursday 3 June 2021, that Egypt has fully vaccinated staff in key resorts and hotels in the Red Sea and South Sinai governorates to prepare to receive tourists in the summer.
Arabic
Mansoura Prosecution renewed the detention of activist Mohamed Adel for additional fifteen days in Case No. 4118 of 2018, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
الحكومة تنفي خصخصة المرافق العامة للدولة وفقاً لتعديلات قانون رأس المال
The government denied rumors about the privatization of state public utilities per the new amendments to the Capital Market Law.
يكمل عامين خلال أيام.. تجديد حبس المحامي عمرو نوهان 45 يوما في اتهامه بـ نشر أخبار كاذبة
Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of human rights lawyer Amr Nohan, for another forty-five days, according to the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.
تجديد حبس المترجمة خلود سعيد 45 يوما احتياطيا في ثاني قضاياها بتهمة “نشر أخبار كاذبة”
Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of translator Kholoud Saeed for another forty-five days, over “publishing false news” charges.
بشرى سارة.. إخلاء سبيل 17 متهما في 3 قضايا سياسية بينها “أحداث 20 سبتمبر”
Cairo Criminal Court ordered released a number of defendants in the case known as “20 September protests” among other cases, according to lawyer Mohamed Ahmed.
مسار زمني لأعمال الصندوق السيادي المصري
Mada Masr publishes a timeline of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt’s accomplishments over the past three years.