[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
Alaa Abdel-Fattah: A symbol of Egypt's police state
Alaa's hunger strike has lasted seven weeks so far, and there are genuine fears over his fragile physical condition after the torture and deprivation he has suffered during the last nine years.
Egyptian activist Yahia Hussein Abdel-Hady receives presidential pardon
Egyptian political activist Yahia Hussein Abdel-Hady received on Tuesday a presidential pardon after he was sentenced to prison last week to four years in prison for intentionally spreading false news about Egypt locally and internationally, his lawyer Khaled Ali confirmed.
25 detainees ordered released in 2 days
Release orders for twenty-five imprisoned detainees, mostly activists and politicians jailed without trial for as long as four years, were issued over the course of Sunday and Monday by judicial authorities, according to several lawyers who spoke to Mada Masr.
New group of pretrial detainees to be released ‘within hours’: Egypt Presidential Pardon Committee
The list includes pretrial detainees who have been jailed pending investigation in different cases, including researcher and writer Ayman Abdel-Moati, former spokesperson of the 6 April Movement Sherif El-Rubi, and two others, according to El-Awady, who made the announcement in a post on his Facebook page.
At least 16,000 people prosecuted in Egypt in political cases in 2020–2021, independent report
Over 16,000 in Egypt faced legal action in 2020 and 2021 in cases related to political activity, according to an independent report.
Rotation of Ahmed Sabry Nassef for the third time, a month after his acquittal
After a remand detention that lasted for more than five years, and despite a verdict of his acquittal, Ahmed Sabry Ali Nassef appeared today before the Zawya Prosecution. He was investigated in connection with Zawiya Misdemeanor No. 4407 of 2022, on charges of “joining a terrorist group and possessing of one bullet,” after a period of unlawful detention at an unknown location.
Last Saturday, May 28, 2022, the first trial session of twenty-three defendants, including a child, in connection with El-Salam-I Felonies no. 8846 of 2022, was held. The defendants are accused of publishing and broadcasting video clips showing the torture of detainees at the Al-Salam City I police department (East Cairo) at the beginning of this year. After the first session, the criminal court adjourned the case to its session on June 27th for review.
State Security Court sentences Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh and Mahmoud Ezzat to 15 years
A Cairo Supreme State Security Court sentenced on Sunday acting Muslim Brotherhood guide Mahmoud Ezzat and former presidential candidate and leader of the Strong Egypt Party Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh along with sixteen others to fifteen years in prison on charges of leading an illegal group and spreading false news.
Family requests surveillance footage from final weeks of economic researcher Ayman Hadhoud’s life
The family of the late economic researcher Ayman Hadhoud has filed a legal request for the release of surveillance footage from the final weeks in his life.
AFTE and EIPR submit two requests to the prosecution to investigate Ayman Hadhoud’s death
Today, the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights submitted two requests to Nasr City prosecution, to resume it investigations in case No. 738 of 2022, regarding economic researcher Ayman Hadhoud’s death incident inside Abbasiya Mental Health Hospital.
Free Them All: A Fair and Transparent Process to Release Political Prisoners in Egypt
“Freeing political prisoners of all backgrounds who are imprisoned or detained in the thousands for their peaceful actions” was the first on top of the list of the “First Seven Steps” initiative, launched in 2021 and signed by more than fifty civil society organizations, political parties, diaspora groups and regional and international human rights entities.
Dominant media group bans coverage of Civil Democratic Movement
United Media Services, an intelligence-owned conglomerate that dominates the domestic press landscape, issued instructions on Saturday evening to ban the newspapers and TV channels it manages from hosting leading figures from the Civil Democratic Movement, according to a leading member of the company.
Presidency considering pardon for Egyptian activist Yahia Abdel-Hady: Pardon committee
The Egyptian presidency has said it will consider including the name of activist Yahia Hussein Abdel-Hady, sentenced on Monday to four years in prison, on a pardon list set to be issued “within days,” said the Presidential Pardon Committee.
Chair of the National Human Rights Council Moushira Khattab requested on Tuesday evening that imprisoned activist Alaa Abd El Fattah be transferred to an alternative site of detention with superior health facilities.
NCHR makes 1st comment on Alaa Abd El Fattah’s hunger strike, family responds
For the first time, the newly formed National Council for Human Rights has spoken publicly on the status of imprisoned activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, who on Monday entered his forty-fifth day on hunger strike in protest against harsh prison conditions and his deprivation of basic rights.
The response from opposition parties was varied. Some had already come together to lay out principles according to which they believe the dialogue should take place, and suggested that any public consultation held by the national academy would be tantamount to propaganda, or a festival or educational seminar intended to endorse the status quo, rather than a serious dialogue seeking to bring the nation out of crisis.
New report documents over 1,700 prisoners ‘rotated’ in remand detention in 4 years
In the last four years, at least 1,764 prisoners were subject to “rotation,” a loophole commonly used by Egyptian authorities to circumvent the legal limits on the duration for which detainees may be held without trial, a new independent report revealed.
Two Journalists who participated in state media workers protests detained for 15 days
TV presenter Hala Fahmy and journalist Safaa al-Korbagy, two outspoken critics of senior management at the National Broadcasting Authority, appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in recent days, according to their lawyers.
Mubarak family reserves legal rights against any future 'defamatory reporting:' Son
The Mubarak family reserves their legal rights against any future "defamatory reporting," son of the late former President Hosni Mubarak, Gamal, said in a video statement broadcast on Tuesday.
National Security Agency intervenes to block candidates from running in labor elections
Since the lead up to the elections, the first phase of which began on May 16, the security body has taken steps to intervene and prevent certain candidates from running, according to a number of hopeful candidates who told Mada Masr they were warned off running, were prevented from obtaining candidacy papers or, after successfully submitting their candidacies, found themselves excluded from the final candidate rolls.
Foreign Policy
Sisi discusses int'l developments with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Wednesday with the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi the “distinguished historical relations” between Egypt and the European Union (EU) as well as the latest developments internationally and regionally, foremost of which is the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
Climate efforts should focus on implementing Paris Agreement, closing funding gaps: FM Shoukry
Egypt’s Foreign Minister and President Designate of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) Sameh Shoukry said it is important to focus climate efforts on the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and affirmed the necessity of closing the funding gaps related to the climate crisis.
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor signed a joint communique after the ninth round of the joint committee between the two countries was held in the Egyptian capital, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry stated that Cairo is always ready for dialogue on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue, describing the file as an existential issue and a matter of national security for Egypt and its people.
Egypt's House speaker condemns Israel's attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque
Hanafy El-Gebaly, the speaker of the House of Representatives, launched a scathing attack against Israel, accusing it of implementing "wicked schemes" to abolish the Arab character of Jerusalem and tamper with its religious holy sites.
Shoukry affirms Egypt’s continued support for legitimate rights of Palestinian people
Ahmed Hafez, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Rajoub briefed Minister Shoukry on the most prominent challenges in Palestine, and the recent increase in violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and other religious shrines.
Egyptian foreign minister tackles war developments with Ukrainian counterpart
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Thursday the latest military and humanitarian developments in the Ukrainian crisis with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in a telephone call, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
Egypt’s Minister of Defence heads to DRC for military cooperation talks
Egypt’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and Minister of Defence and Military Production, Mohamed Zaki, arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday, accompanied by a high-level military delegation.
Economy
Egypt private sector activity extends contraction in May as inflation weighs
Non-oil private sector activity in Egypt contracted for an eighteenth month in May as the Ukraine crisis, import restrictions and a devalued currency put pressure on prices, a survey showed on Sunday.
CBE to issue $540m worth treasury bills on Monday
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) will issue, on Monday, a bid of local treasury bills denominated in the US currency, at a value of 540 million US dollars, for a period of 364 days, due on 6 June 2023.
Suez Canal Bank achieves net profit of EGP 96m in 1Q 2022
The Suez Canal Bank announced in a statement on Tuesday that it achieved a net profit of 96 million Egyptian pounds at the end of March 2022, compared to 116 million Egyptian pounds in March 2021.
Egypt delays sukuk issuance to FY2022/23: Finance minister
Egypt plans to issue its first sukuk (Islamic sovereign bonds) in the upcoming FY2022/2023 with a key objective of financing the budget deficit, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait told Ahram Online.
Egypt to offer $40 bln in state-owned assets for Egyptian, foreign investors
Egypt will offer forty billion US dollars worth of state assets to Egyptian and foreign investors in the form of profit sharing, production and management partnerships, and having a share in the companies’ capital, according to Minister of Public Business Sector Hisham Tawfik.
Egypt purchases 465,000 tons of wheat from Russia, Bulgaria and Romania
Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) announced on Wednesday that it has signed a contract to purchase 4650,000 tons of wheat from Russia, Bulgaria and Romania in what is reportedly the country’s largest wheat purchase since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February.
Egypt Eyes Billions in Private Sector Investment With New Push
Egypt said it’s seeking billions of dollars in private sector investments and will set new policies on government ownership as it moves to boost an economy dealing with the shock waves of the war in Ukraine.
Volume of Islamic banking in Egypt increased to EGP 434bn in March
The Egyptian Association for Islamic Finance revealed that the volume of Islamic banking in Egypt reached 434 billion Egyptian pounds by the end of March, constituting about five percent of the size of the Egyptian banking market — an increase of 55.2 billion Egyptian pounds and a growth rate of 14.6 percent compared to March 2021.
The road to net-zero carbon; Egypt races for green hydrogen
On 15 May, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced Egypt’s strategy to deal with the current economic crisis. During the announcement, Madbouly expressed the country’s ambition to become a major hub for green hydrogen and ammonia production.
Egypt to seek LE1.5 trillion in borrowing as debt servicing consumes 50% of 2022/23 expenditures
The government presented its draft budget for the coming fiscal year, outlining a total spending bill worth around 2.71 trillion Egyptian pounds (nearly 150 billion US dollars) to lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Monday.
State lays out plan to exit specific economic sectors over coming 3 years, boost private sector role
The government has laid out a plan to withdraw its arm from select sectors of the economy, including large swaths of agricultural and livestock production, construction industries and hospitality.
Uncertainty looms regarding Egypt’s exemption from Indian wheat export ban
Amid ambiguity as to whether Egypt’s food insecurity will ensure it is exempted from India’s new ban on wheat exports, Supply Minister Ali Meselhy told Reuters reporters on Sunday that Egypt has reached a government-to-government agreement with India to import 500,000 tons of wheat.
Egypt’s parliament approves additional allocation to current budget
Egypt’s parliament – the House of Representatives – gave final approval on Monday to a legislative amendment allocating an additional six billion Egyptian pounds to the FY 2021/22 budget.
Egypt's new budget is drafted amid global inflationary pressures, finance minister tells MPs
Egypt's finance minister Mohamed Maait and planning and economic development minister Hala El-Said presented two statements on the draft budget of FY 2022/23 and the socio-economic development plan to the House of Representatives in a plenary session on Monday.
Domestic Security
Province of Sinai claims killing 17 Armed Forces personnel in attack near Suez Canal
Province of Sinai, the Islamic State affiliate in Egypt, claimed responsibility on Sunday night for killing seventeen military personnel in a Saturday attack on a water pumping station in an area east of the Suez Canal.
Armed Forces neutralize 10 terrorists in North Sinai hideout amid ongoing military operation
The Egyptian Armed Forces have neutralized ten terrorists and seized weapons, ammunition, grenades, explosives, wireless communication devices in North Sinai, according to a Sunday statement by the spokesperson of the Armed Forces.
Meet the newly remade Union of Sinai Tribes, the force taking over the fight in Sinai
Since its inception, the Union of Sinai Tribes has relied in large part on members of the Tarabin tribe to swell its ranks in its fight alongside the Armed Forces in the conflict in North Sinai. However, March and April saw other influential tribes — once mistrusted by the military as many of their members had joined the Islamic State-affiliated Province of Sinai — join the frontlines, allowing the union to score several victories and expand its presence in key hotspots in eastern North Sinai.
From Jadaliyya
Living the Nile River: Materiality, Embodiment, and Egypt's Colonial Economy (Video)
In this interview, Jennifer L. Derr talks about the notion that the Nile is not a singular entity but a realm of practice and a set of materially specific relations that structured experiences of colonial economy.
الكرامة في الثورة المصرية: الاحتجاج والمطالبة خلال الثورات العربية
Zaynab El Bernoussi talks about how the connection between the recurrent dignity demands and Arab identity became more pronounced with the ‘Arab Spring’ in 2011.
“The Egyptian Labor Corps documents the experiences of these men in the war and follows them through the Egyptian revolution of 1919. Most importantly, it analyzes how they influenced, and were influenced by, contemporary ideas about the racial identity of Egyptians. Race was a crucial lens through which both British and Egyptian authorities viewed the men of the ELC.” Kyle J. Anderson writes.
Arabic
جمال عيد: حجز دعوى مخاصمة أسرة علاء عبد الفتاح للنائب العام للحكم في 3 يوليو المقبل
The litigation filed by the family of blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah against the Attorney General was adjourned to July 3, according to lawyer Gamal Eid.
The article discusses parties' mixed reactions towards the national dialogue planned by the National Training Academy.
رامي شعث وأولويات النضال في المنفى
In this interview, Ramy Shaath discusses detention conditions in Egyptian prisons.
تقرير وقائع القبض والاستيقاف على خلفية سياسية خلال ٢٠٢٠-٢٠٢١
16,000 people prosecuted in Egypt in political cases during 2020–2021 according to a report, published by the Transparency Center for Archiving, Data Management and Research.
«لف وارجع تاني».. كيف أدارت الحكومة أزمة القمح
The article examines the state’s exceptional measures to manage the wheat crisis.