Exceptional visit for Egypt's prisoners on ‘Police Day’ anniversary

CAIRO – 22 January 2024: On the occasion of the celebration of the “72nd Police Day,” the Egyptian Ministry of Interior decided to grant all inmates an “exceptional visit” during the period from Saturday, 1/27/2024 until Tuesday, 2/27/2024, according to a statement from the Ministry on Monday.

Last week, the Egyptian Official Gazette published Presidential Decree No. 1 of 2024, concerning the pardon of the remainder of the sentence for some convicts on the occasion of Police Day and the January 25 Revolution, which fell on January 25, 2024.

The decree, which was signed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, applies to convicts who have been sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 10 years, and who have served at least half of their sentence. It also applies to convicts who have been sentenced to life imprisonment, but who have served at least 20 years of their sentence.

The decree specifically mentions the following categories of convicts who are eligible for pardon:

•          Convicts who have been sentenced for crimes related to political expression or political activity.

•          Convicts who have been sentenced for crimes related to social solidarity, such as theft or robbery.

•          Convicts who have been sentenced for crimes related to traffic violations.

The decree is expected to benefit thousands of prisoners in Egypt. It is seen as a gesture of goodwill by the Egyptian government on the occasion of two important national holidays.