New batch of 30 pre-trial detainees to be released: Egypt’s Presidential Pardon Committee

CAIRO – 24 November 2022: A new batch of 30 prisoners who are on remand will be released in accordance with the decision of the Public Prosecution and the Supreme State Security Prosecution, said Tariq al-Khouli, a member of the Presidential Pardon Committee.

The Presidential Pardon Committee is working on files for the release of detainees and social integration, in continuous coordination with all state agencies, particularly the Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Interior, Khouli said.

On November 15, 2022, the Presidential Pardon Committee announced that it was finalizing measures to release the 30 prisoners held in pre-trial detention in accordance with the committee's regulatory laws.

In October 2022, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi pardoned politician, former parliamentarian Zyad el-Elaimy, who was sentenced in 2021 to 5 years in prison on charges of spreading false news.

Decree no. 510 of 2022 for releasing Elaimy comes in response to appeals by political parties and the presidential pardon committee.

The decision comes within the framework of the president's efforts to activate the work of the pardon commission.

Egypt has released hundreds of inmates since President Sisi called for a national dialogue in April, including pretrial detainees and pardoned inmates.

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

The Egyptian Prosecution’s decisions to release a number of pretrial detainees give further momentum to the National Dialogue, said dialogue coordinator, Diaa Rashwan.

In his TV program “Masr Jadida” on ETC, Rashwan said the prosecution’s decisions encourage further parties of different orientations to conduct the dialogue.

He added that the next period will see consecutive releases.