499 convicts pardoned in Egypt on occasion of July 23 Revolution anniversary

CAIRO – 23 July 2023: The Society Protection Sector at the Ministry of Interior announced Sunday pardoning 499 convicts, and who are eligible for release in accordance with presidential pardon terms, on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of July 23 Revolution.

Over the past years, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi pardoned hundreds of inmates on different national and religious occasions every year.

Moreover, Egypt has released hundreds of pretrial detainees and pardoned many prominent figures since President Sisi launched the National Dialogue and reactivated the Presidential Pardon Committee in April 2022.

Since the committee's activation, more than 1,000 pretrial detainees have been released and several convicts received presidential pardons.

The Presidential Pardon Committee, formed in 2016 and reactivated by Sisi in April 2023, aims to release young prisoners of conscience and reintegrate them into society.

The committee receives pardon requests via many avenues, including through the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) and the human rights committees of the House of Representatives and Senate.

In addition, the committee receives pardon requests through the National Youth Conference website.