[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 dismisses reports of fines on those who abstain from Hepatitis C screening
The Egyptian government has dismissed reports that a fine of 2,500 Egyptian pounds would be imposed on those who abstain from being screened for Hepatitis C as part of the government's “100 million lives” campaign, in which more than twenty-one million Egyptians have been tested for the virus.
Egypt's PM Madbouly issues executive bylaws for Law of Persons with Disabilities
Egypt's Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly issued on Monday the executive bylaws regulating the recently issued Law of Persons with Disabilities.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held a meeting on Sunday with the members of the Judicial Authorities Council, the first for an Egyptian president with the council since 2008.
Egypt prosecution refers 13 to criminal court in 2016 wheat corruption case
Egypt's Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek has referred eleven wheat silo officials and two others to criminal court on charges of graft worth 634 million Egyptian pounds, a statement by the prosecution’s office said on Sunday.
Egypt court reduces sentences for Brotherhood's Badie, 36 others in Beni Suef case
A Cairo Court of Cassation has accepted an appeal by the head of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie and thirty-six others, decreasing their prison sentences in the so-called ”Beni Suef violence” case.
Egypt parliament condemns EU parliament for 'double standards' and 'bias' after rights criticism
A statement issued by Egypt’s parliament has “strongly condemned” a decision taken by the European Parliament on 13 December, accusing it of interfering in the internal affairs of Egypt.
Egypt ministers to address economic issues in parliament next week
Egypt’s parliament will discuss the country's financial and economic performance over issues like foreign borrowing, public debts, and cash subsidies allocated to the Takaful and Karama social solidarity program when it reconvenes on Saturday.
Egypt MPs meet Pope Tawadros II to discuss Coptic Church's role in Africa
Members of the Egyptian parliament's African Affairs Committee held a meeting on Thursday with Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II to discuss the expected role of the Coptic Orthodox Church in furthering Egypt's relations with African countries in 2019.
Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church to assign int'l lawyers in Deir Sultan Monastery ownership case
Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church has decided to appoint a team of international lawyers to restore its legitimate ownership of the Deir Sultan Monastery in Jerusalem, said the international media officer of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
A Cairo court acquitted on Thursday forty-three defendants tried as part of the NGO foreign funding case, overturning a June 2013 sentence convicting them of operating unlicensed NGOs and receiving foreign funding with the intention of harming national security.
Daesh ideology, discourse have failed: Egypt's Observatory for Monitoring Takfiri Fatwas
A recent report published by Egypt's Observatory for Monitoring Takfiri Fatwas and Extremist Ideologies at Egypt's Dar al-Ifta suggests that the Daesh terrorist organisation's ideology and discourse have failed, and that the group has splintered into scattered offshoots and individual actors.
Data mining, privacy and the case of ‘the International’
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior announced last month that its General Directorate of Information Technology had arrested the creator of a computer program “designed to steal confidential data from Facebook accounts (phone numbers and email addresses linked to the accounts, raising questions about data mining, privacy and the inconsistent application of Egypt’s cybersecurity laws—whereby the state and large corporations are given leeway while smaller outfits find themselves targeted.”
An industry under threat: Ramadan 2019, brought to you by Egyptian Media Group
The article discusses the state’s ongoing bid to monopolize all forms of media and artistic production in Egypt.
Imprisoned rights lawyer Mohamed Ramadan reports deteriorating health, poor detention conditions
An Alexandria prosecutor’s office renewed on Tuesday the detention of Alexandrian rights lawyer Mohamed Ramadan for fifteen days as he continues to suffer from a series of health complications and a lack of proper medical care in custody, according to his lawyer.
Lawyers withdraw before Cairo judge in protest of continued detention of clients
In a rare move, a group of lawyers publicly refused to continue representing their clients before a Cairo judge, in protest of what they said was a “lack of response” from the court to repeated requests to free defendants being held in remand detention.
Report: At least 581 sentenced to death, 32 executed in Egypt in first 11 months of 2018
Over thirty people were executed and nearly six hundred death sentences were issued in Egypt in the first eleven months of 2018, according to a report issued on Sunday by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).
State Council adjourns Warraq residents’ lawsuit to January 26
The State Council adjourned on Saturday its trial of a lawsuit filed by Warraq residents against a government decision to establish a new urban community on the island, to 26 January, pending the review of new documents provided by the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) and to allow the State Lawsuits Authority to submit additional documentation to the case file.
Foreign Policy
Egypt's Sisi meets with chairman of Saudi Shura Council in Cairo
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met on Tuesday with chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Bin Mohamed al-Sheikh and an accompanying parliamentary delegation, a statement by al-Sisi's spokesperson Bassam Rady read.
Syrian national security director meets with Egypt's head of general intelligence in Cairo
The Director of Syria's National Security Bureau Ali Mamlouk discussed in a meeting on Saturday in Cairo with the Head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel a number of political and security issues of mutual interest, as well as counter-terrorism efforts.
Economy
Egypt achieved self-sufficiency in natural gas consumption in 2018: Ministry
Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum says that the country achieved self-sufficiency in natural gas consumption in September 2018 due to the gradual increase in local production and the plan to develop major gas fields in the Mediterranean.
Egypt's bourse loses EGP4.5 billion
The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) indexes posted collective losses at the close of trading on Tuesday prompted by sales operations by Arab investors and foreign investment funds.
Domestic Security
Egypt heightens security measures ahead of Christmas celebrations: Army Statement
The military spokesperson said that all forces have been trained on how to deal with threats that may disturb the celebrations.
Egypt police kill 14 terrorists in North Sinai shootout: Ministry
Egypt’s police killed fourteen members of a terrorist cell in North Sinai’s al-Arish during a shootout, a statement by the interior ministry said on Sunday.
Student killed, others injured after school fence collapses in East Cairo
A student was killed and two others were seriously injured when part of a school fence collapsed on a number of students in Cairo’s al-Marg district on Thursday, according to the district head.
Egypt police kill 8 Hasm terrorists plotting attacks during Christmas: Ministry
Egyptian police have killed eight “high-risk terrorists” and arrested four others in separate shootouts and security raids in the vicinity of Cairo and Giza governorate, a Ministry of Interior statement said on Thursday.
Arabic
نتيجة «الانتخابات التكميلية للنواب».. إعادة في جولة ثانية
The article comments on the results of parliamentary local elections in al-Arish, Zefta, and Tamia.
كواليس تعديل دستور "النوايا الحسنة"
Almanassa examines the debate inside the parliament over the intended constitutional amendments to empower the executive branch.
قانون العمل الأهلي في مصر: خطوة للأمام أم خطوتان للخلف
The article analyzes how the NGOs law is shaping civic engagement in Sisi’s Egypt.
احتجاجات السودان في الإعلام المصري.. «ساعة تروح وساعة تيجي»
The article examines how Egypt’s media coverage of the protests in Sudan changes according to the developments in Egypt-Sudan relations.
«التعيينات في الهيئات القضائية».. فصل جديد في أزمة الرئاسة مع استقلال القضاء
The article looks into the latest appointments in the judiciary and its impact on ensuring the independence of the judiciary.