[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's Coptic Pope Tawadros visits Al-Azhar Grand Imam to congratulate Muslims on Eid Al-FitrEgypt's Coptic Pope Tawadros II congratulates Muslims on the advent of Eid al-Fitr, visiting al-Azhar's Grand Imam Shiekh Ahmed al-Tayyeb at his headquarters in Cairo on Monday.
3,477 prisoners released by presidential pardon on first day of Eid: Egypt's interior ministry On the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Egypt’s prison authority said it has released 3,477 prisoners in accordance with a presidential pardon, including 690 imprisoned for failing to pay debts, according to a statement by the interior ministry.
Egypt's Sisi performs Eid Al-Fitr prayers with police and army martyrs' families Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi performed on Friday Eid al-Fitr prayers with families of the country's police and army martyrs, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
Egypt's Sisi appoints former PM, defence, interior ministers as presidential aides President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has appointed former Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, former Defence Minister Sedki Sobhy, and former Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar as presidential aides, according to an announcement published on Friday in Egypt's official gazette.
New defense and interior ministers sworn in, as Sisi forms his new Cabinet Egypt’s cabinet has undergone a major reshuffle, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appointing new ministers for his second term as president. The new cabinet will be led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbuly.
Egyptian court issues preliminary death sentence for 11 Brotherhood members over 2015 killing of 3 policemen An Egyptian criminal court referred the preliminary death sentences of eleven members of the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood organization to the country's grand mufti for his non-binding opinion.
Censorship Board revokes decision to ban film hours after announcing it Egypt’s Censorship Board went back on a prior decision to ban director Khaled Youssef’s latest film, Karma, on Tuesday.
Wife of detained journalist banned from traveling to visit her son Airport security officials banned Manar Tantawy, the wife of detained journalist Hesham Gaafar, from leaving Cairo airport on Wednesday, and confiscated her passport.
Urgent matters court rules it does not have jurisdiction in lawsuit to ban BBC website Deciding on a lawsuit that would have stripped British Broadcasting Corporation employees in Cairo of their work authorization and blocked the broadcasting corporation’s website in Egypt is out of its jurisdiction, the Cairo Court of Urgent Matters stated in a Wednesday ruling.
Legislative process and content of new media law criticized by journalists and MPs Parliamentarians, journalists, press professionals, and high-ranking syndicate leaders have struck out against Sunday’s preliminary approval of a draft law that will regulate the practice of journalism in Egypt.
Ministers’ objections prompt government to propose amendments to salaries law Two months after parliament passed legislation guaranteeing maximum salaries for cabinet members, the law is back up for discussion with amendments on the table to provide the most senior ministers with the largest pension payouts.
Unhappiness and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt Salah is a hero of disruption, a political voice without talking politics.
Thanaweya amma English exam leaker identified by student’s digital bar code: Egypt’s education ministry Egypt's education ministry said on Tuesday that the electronic bar code printed on each thanaweya amma exam booklet has helped identify the individual who leaked the English language exam on Tuesday.
Economy
Sisi calls on Egyptians to endure challenges on back of fresh subsidy cuts President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday called on Egyptians to endure a raft of tough economic reforms introduced by the government, speaking the same day the government increased electricity prices.
Government raises electricity tariffs for industrial producers by up to 43% Industrial producers’ electricity costs will rise by up to forty-three percent, according to new tariff increases announced by the government on Tuesday, which also raised the cost of electricity for commercial outlets by up to twenty-two percent as part of a five-year plan which aims to eliminate electricity subsidies by 2022.
Government raises household electricity tariffs by up to 69.2% As of July, Egyptian households will face significantly higher electricity bills after Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mohamed Shaker announced an increase in tariffs in a Tuesday press conference.
Government hikes fuel prices by up to 66.7% The government raised fuel prices at 9 am on Saturday morning by as much as 66.67 percent, according to Saturday’s edition of the Official Gazette. The move comes as part of the 2016 structural readjustment program agreed on with the International Monetary Fund and amid rising international oil prices.
Live updates: Government raises transportation costs nationwide following fuel price hikes Egypt’s government is raising the tariffs on transportation as well as fares for regulated private taxis, hours after significant hikes for fuel prices were announced as part of a wider structural adjustment program agreed on with the International Monetary Fund.
Egypt's finance ministry dispenses EGP 1.5 bn to fund energy-saving street-lighting project Egypt’s finance ministry dispensed 1.5 billion Egyptian pounds for the national project to install energy-saving bulbs on street lamposts, the ministry announced on Sunday.
Foreign Relations
Egypt opens Rafah border crossing during three days of Eid Al-Fitr Egyptian authorities have opened the Rafah border crossing with Gaza during the three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to a statement by the Palestinian embassy.
At the terminal: Stories from the Rafah Border Crossing It has been one month since the opening of the Rafah border crossing, marking the longest window in which Gazans have been permitted to leave and re-enter the besieged Gaza Strip since 2013.
Diplomatic source: ‘Prompt’ pardons for 32 Ethiopian nationals sign of ‘growing strategic relationship’ with Egypt Egypt pardoned thirty-two Ethiopian nationals held in Egyptian prisons on Monday, following a request submitted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to an Ethiopian diplomatic source.
EgyptAir run 11 charter flights for football fans from Cairo to St Petersburg Egypt Air is to run eleven charter flights for Egyptian football fans to fly to Russia in support of the Egyptian national team, according to a statement released by the airline on Sunday.
Sisi says Egypt will continue its efforts to halt deteriorating situation in Syria Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi told the United Nation’s special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday that Egypt will spare no efforts to halt the current Syrian crisis and suffering, al-Sisi’s spokesman said.
Domestic Security
1st civilian killed by armed men since Operation Sinai 2018 prompts security sweep in south Arish Unidentified armed men shot and killed an Arish resident outside his house late on Saturday evening, according to eyewitnesses. This is the first such incident since the February launch of Operation Sinai 2018 by the Egyptian armed forces.
2nd targeted attack on civilian since Operation Sinai 2018 start in west Arish Unidentified assailants shot and killed a citizen of west Arish in front of his house on Monday in the second incident of this nature this week, according to local residents.
Security source, eyewitnesses: 3 soldiers killed in militant checkpoint attack claimed by Province of Sinai Three members of Egypt’s armed forces were killed on Wednesday at a militant-controlled checkpoint on the main road west of Arish, according to eyewitnesses and a security source.
Arabic
بتوع المترو" .. أوراق قضية لا زالت تمر من فوقها العجلات “ The article discusses the controversy over the latest increases in metro ticket prices
التجديد للجميع.. نيابة أمن الدولة تمدد حبس محمدين وأبوزيد وآخرين The Higher State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of defendants arrested over protesting the metro ticket price in the case N 718 of 2018.
في 6 سنوات: فاتورة الكهرباء زادت على الأغنياء 300% والشريحة الوسطى 430% والأكثر فقرا 440% The article traces the increases in electricity prices over the past six years and its impact on Egyptians.
البرلمان يوافق على 3 قوانين للصحافة.. و"الأعلى للإعلام": حماية من الفوضى The article discusses the parliament's approval of three laws on the regulation of the press.
صحفيون عن «قانون الصحافة» الجديد: يهدد المهنة ويمنح «المجلس الأعلى» سلطات شبه إلهية Journalists expressed their anger over the parliament’s preliminary approval of the new media law, denouncing the government’s continuing violation of the freedom of press.
يا حلوة يا شايلة البلاّص».. كيف جسد الريس متقال الفن الشعبي الجنوبي؟» The article reviews the Egyptian folklore music through the songs of the late artist al-Rayes Metaal.
لمقاومة التحرش والاختطاف.. فتيات مصر يدافعن عن أنفسهن بالكهرباء والخلطة المنزلية The article highlights the daily struggle of Egyptian women to protect themselves from violence and sexual harassment.
اعتداء في 20 يومًا.. من يحمي الأطباء؟ 12 The article sheds lights on the recurrence of violence against doctors.