[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 to release new batch of 39 pretrial detainees Monday: Presidential Pardon Committee
Egyptian authorities will release a new group of thirty-nine pretrial detainees on Monday morning, said lawyer Tarek El-Awady, a member of the Presidential Pardon Committee.
Egypt: Human rights crisis deepens one year after national human rights strategy launched
Authorities in Egypt have shown no genuine will to acknowledge, let alone address, the country’s deep-rooted human rights crisis despite launching a National Human Rights Strategy one year ago. Instead, they have continued to stifle freedoms and commit crimes under international law in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), said Amnesty International today.
Egyptian activist re-arrested after interview with Al-Jazeera
High-profile Egyptian activist Sherif El-Ruby has been arrested this week and will be in custody for fifteen days on charges of “being part of a terrorist group” and “disseminating false news”, less than two weeks after he had been interviewed over the phone by Qatar-funded Al-Jazeera news broadcaster.
Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed al-Najdi
The Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed al-Najdi has been released by Egyptian authorities after spending over two years in detention, without going on trial.
Egypt releases new group of 46 pretrial detainees including leftist activist Haitham Mohamadein
Egyptian authorities ordered on Thursday the release of a new group of forty-six pretrial detainees, including prominent leftist activist and lawyer Haitham Mohamadein.
Egypt's national dialogue approves regulations governing subcommittees, rapporteurs' tasks
The Egyptian National Dialogue's Board of Trustees has approved the regulations governing the work of subcommittees during a meeting held on Saturday in the presence of the general rapporteurs and assistant general rapporteurs.
Egyptian national dialogue's full squad selected, four new subcommittees added
The Egyptian national dialogue's board of trustees completed its selection of rapporteurs and assistant rapporteurs for its three main track (political, economic, social) subcommittees during a meeting on Saturday, in preparation for the beginning of the presidential initiative sessions.
Several new faces from Egypt’s opposition were appointed on Saturday to official posts as part of the National Dialogue, a public consultation process on political life in the country heralded as a forum for inclusive discussion.
Environmental advocacy and research constrained in Egypt, says Human Rights Watch
Independent organizations are constrained from conducting environmental advocacy and research by heavy-handed government gatekeeping that has made them wary of engaging publicly with COP27 which Egypt will host in Sharm el-Sheikh later this year, concludes a Human Rights Watch report released on Monday morning.
Mada Masr Editor-in-Chief Lina Attalah, journalists Rana Mamdouh, Sara Seif Eddin and Beesan Kassab were released on bail on Wednesday evening after interrogation sessions at the Cairo Appeals Prosecution.
Public Prosecution summons Lina Attalah, 3 journalists for investigation tomorrow
The Cairo Appeals Prosecution summoned Mada Masr Editor-in-Chief Lina Attalah and journalists Rana Mamdouh, Sara Seif Eddin and Beesan Kassab for interrogation tomorrow at the Public Prosecution office in Rehab.
The Egyptian human rights coalition on cop 27 Petition
In the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27) taking place in Egypt’s resort town of Sharm El Sheikh from 7 to18 November 2022, the undersigned organizations, groups and individuals note with great concern the human rights situation in Egypt and in particular the government’s restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, which risk to undermine a successful, inclusive and participatory climate summit.
Foreign Policy
President Sisi, Sudan's Burhan discuss GERD developments in Cairo meeting
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Saturday the latest developments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue with Sudan’s chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel-Fattah El-Burhan in Cairo, the Egyptian presidency announced.
Egypt seeks to achieve balanced results in international climate action: FM
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry participated on Wednesday as a keynote speaker at an event organized by the American Chamber of Commerce on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York under the title ‘Partners in Climate Solutions: Governments and Business at the COP27.’
Shoukry heading to New York for high-level meetings of UNGA 77
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shourky will embark on a trip to New York on Sunday to attend the High-Level Meetings of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77), which will kick off the following day.
Egypt, India discuss strengthening bilateral relations, international issues
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the two ministers discussed ways to advance bilateral relations between Egypt and India. It was agreed to strengthen the mechanisms of consultation and coordination during the coming period, including arranging bilateral meetings between the two ministers to be agreed on the timing in the coming weeks.
US to release much of conditioned annual aid to Egypt as progress in human rights made
The Biden administration said on Wednesday that it will provide Egypt with much of the 300 million US dollars tranche of annual military aid that has been conditioned on human rights improvements, according to the AP.
No active members of the Muslim Brotherhood on Qatari soil: Qatar’s Emir Tamim
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani stated on Wednesday that there are no active members of the Muslim Brotherhood or related organisations on Qatari soil.
Egypt President Sisi, Qatar Emir Tamim hold talks in Doha; witness signing of several MoUs
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi held an official session of talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday at the royal palace in Doha, then the two leaders witnessed the signing a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries.
Egypt’s Al-Sisi, Qatar’s Emir Tamim sign 3 MoUs
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Emir of the State of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Sovereign Fund of Egypt for Investments and Development and the Qatar Investment Authority in the field of social affairs.
Turkish backing for emboldened Dbaiba prompts Egypt protest at Arab League meeting
Egypt’s foreign minister withdrew on Tuesday from an Arab League session chaired by a representative of one of Libya’s two rival governments.
Economy
Egypt’s CBE maintains key interest rates
Bucking all expectations, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has maintained key interest rates for the third time since the initial three percent hike following the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Finance Ministry adopted on Tuesday a package of exceptional measures to facilitate the release of goods held up in ports across Egypt, from tea and coffee to leather and raw materials for industrial production.
Last week, the Central Bank of Egypt announced that it had obtained thirteen US billion dollars in deposits from countries in the Gulf over the first three months of 2022. The figures were recorded in its External Position of the Egyptian Economy Report for the period between June 2021 and March 2022, which it published several months past its due date.
New rules entitle govt to 25% of rice crop in bid to stop selling on global markets
Tightening the regulations, delimiting the agricultural sector once again, an August decision from the Supply Ministry is to compel rice farmers to deliver around twenty-five percent of their crop to the government from now until the end of harvest in December, while other new rules set market rates and require storage sites to gain legal approval before they are used to stock rice crops.
Domestic Security
The fire you cannot put out: Imbaba’s churches and the threats they can’t extinguish
The St. Demiana Church is only distinguishable from surrounding buildings in the neighborhood of Imbaba by the crosses on its windows and the security kiosk and metal gate encircling its perimeter. Before prayers commence, the church is already packed to the brim, as hundreds of families fill the premises leaving almost no standing room. As people pack in, the parish priest, Father Ghaios Bekhit, conducts a safety check around the premises. He checks on the state of the electric cables attached to the air conditioning units and ensures the functionality of the fire extinguishers.
Residents of Arish’s coast face evictions, demolitions amid plans to develop, expand port
On Sunday, bulldozers and heavy machinery were wheeled into Risa, an area in the coastal North Sinai city of Arish, North Sinai, which had been cordoned off, closed over twenty-four hours prior, and watched over by senior security officials and police units. Once there, officials began to evict residents from and demolish private properties, three residents told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity.
Arabic
Human rights organizations called on the Egyptian authorities to intervene urgently to end the imprisonment of blogger and journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Radwan, known as "Mohamed Oxygen", and to hold accountable those who committed violations against him.
In this episode, human rights lawyer Khaled Ali writes about the violations against Dr. Mohamed Mohieldin, as part of a series to cover stories of systematic abuse against those released.
The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services wrote an open letter to the Minister of Manpower, Mohamed Hassan Shehata, calling him to take the necessary measures to urge the Beshai Steel Factory’s management to respond to the workers’ demands.
ما هو تعميق الصناعة ولماذا تحتاجه مصر؟
The article discusses the industry solutions to the economic and financial problems facing Egypt.
العمال والتضخم: قصص المقاومة في زمن الغلاء
The article traces the confrontations between workers and factory managements during 2017 and 2021, some of which advanced workers’ rights despite the heightened tensions, and others failed.