[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.]
Regional and International Relations
As Gulf Aid Dries Up, Egypt Struggles
Enas Hamed writes, “The government’s task of reducing the deficit and turning the Egyptian economy around has grown more difficult with the predicted decline in Gulf aid.”
Thirteen Egyptians Kidnapped in Libya: FM Source
Ahram Online reports, “A Libyan military source had announced that extremist militants stormed a residential complex early Saturday in Sirte city taking thirteen Coptic Christian Egyptians to an unknown location.”
Security
Army Kills Thirteen “Terrorists” in Sinai Raids--Spokesman
Aswat Masriya reports.
Rafah-Gaza Buffer Zone Expands; More Sinai Residents to be Evacuated
Ahram Online reports, “As the Egyptian government prepares to move to phase two of the buffer zone being created in the border city of Rafah, more locals face eviction.”
Gaza Ministry Says Palestinian Minor Killed by Egypt Border Guards
Ahram Online reports, “The Egyptian army says it arrested three Palestinians attempting to enter Sinai illegally.”
Human Rights and Legal Institutions
Retrial in Egypt Al-Jazeera Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed case
BBC reports, “Egypt`s top court has ordered a retrial of three Al-Jazeera journalists jailed on charges of spreading false news.”
Egypt Court Reduces Sentences in `Gay Wedding` Video to One Year
According to Ahram Online, “The men convicted were shown appearing to take part in a Nile boat "wedding celebration" featuring two men as the celebrants.”
Counter Terrorism Bill to be Issued Soon: Egypt`s Minister of Justice
“A new counter terrorism bill has already drawn criticism both sides of the aisle with human rights activists calling it unconstitutional and the interior ministry saying it`s not direct enough,” Ahram Online reports.
A Year of Departures
Laura Gribbon writes, “Human rights activists, journalists and artists are increasingly leaving Egypt.”
Things You Do Not Want to be Caught Doing in 2015
Hiba Afify reviews various newly approved laws to advice Egyptians in avoiding imprisonment. Click here to read the article in Arabic.
Two Jailed Al Jazeera Journalists Seek Presidential Deportation from Egypt
Reuters reports.
Amal Clooney Threatened with Arrest after Criticizing Egypt`s Legal System
Middle East Eye reports, “Senior British lawyer, acting for one of three jailed Al-Jazeera journalists, says lawyers cannot rely on Egyptian court processes.”
A Timeline of the Al Jazeera Trial
Pesha Magid writes a timeline on the developments of Al Jazeera Trial a year after the three journalists were arrested.
A Year of Comebacks and Retreat
Passant Rabie writes on the legal situation of the old regime figures. Click here to read the article in Arabic.
A Year at the Courts
Dalia Rabie reviews court verdicts issued throughout 2014 against political dissidents and former regime figures. Click here to read the article in Arabic.
Al Jazeera Journalist Mohamed Fahmy Should Be Released Not Retried in Egypt
Amal Clooney and Mark Wassouf, counsel for Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy, write on his retrial.
El-Ganzouri, Mubarak-Era Politician, Egypt`s Parliamentary Elections Wild Card?
Gamal Essam al-Din writes, “Kamal al-Ganzouri is making his way back to political center stage, vowing that his `national list` of candidates, serious and in harmony with Egypt`s new president, will gain many seats in Egypt`s upcoming parliament.”
Nour Party Cannot Fund Candidates in Parliamentary Poll
Ahram Online reports: “Senior member of Salafist party says its candidates will have to fund themselves in the upcoming parliamentary election.”
Sisi Is Persecuting, Prosecuting, and Publicly Shaming Egypt’s Gays
Bel Trew argues, “The military government in Cairo is trying to prove it is more ‘Islamic’ than the Islamists it ousted in 2013. So it is hunting down easy targets: LGBT Egyptians”.
2014: The Sisification of Egypt
Amr Khalifa reflects on the restriction and oppression of political dissidents in Egypt under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Jewish Community Leader in Egypt Rejects Banning Abu Hasira Festival
Egypt Independent reports.
Governor Reshuffle to Take Place in January: Al-Sisi
Adham Youssef writes on al-Sisi’s interview with the editors of the three main state-owned newspapers: Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, and Al-Gumhuriyya.
Ministry: Egypt’s Budget Deficit Widens to 107.9 Billion Egyptian Pounds in July-November 2014/2015
Egypt Independent reports.
Arabic
إما استمرار لإماتة السياسة أو التغيير
Amr Hamzawy reflects on state oppression and the restriction of civil rights in 2014.
السيسى والإعلام
Fahmi Huwaidi reflects on al-Sisi’s interview with editors of Egypt’s main newspapers.
وزير التخطيط: تنسيق مصري سعودي إماراتي لإنجاح مؤتمر شرم الشيخ الاقتصادي
Al-Masry Al-Yawm reports that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt are working tirelessly to organize a successful economic conference in Sharm al-Sheikh.
مصر، عام الإفلات من العقاب وغياب المحاسبة
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights releases a statement on economic, social, and political issues in Egypt throughout 2014. This statement released in English.
(عام الكفتة .. محاولة لتوثيق جزء من التاريخ (الحلقة الأولى
Islam Hussain reflects on the Egyptian military’s announcement of the discovery of a cure for hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.
"خواطر بالعامية: خمسة أسباب للاعتراض على قرار منع فيلم "الخروج
Khalid Fahmi reviews the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings in light of Egypt’s ban from showing the movie in local cinemas.
طلاب الأزهر: لماذا تلموننا إذا أصبحنا «دواعش»؟!..4 طلاب بالجامعة يكتبون عن تجاربهم فى جامعة الأزهر.. وأزهرى علمانى: المناهج تُخرج لنا نماذج من أمثال زغلول النجار.. وكل كوادر التكفير خرجت من الأزهر
Al-Yawm al-Sabe’ investigates the range of influence that heads of departments have on the curricula of various colleges and departments at al-Azhar University.
Recently on Jadaliyya Egypt
Cairo Past Futures
Mohamed Elshahed releases twenty-four photographs of headlines from the Egyptian press in the 1950s and 1960s, promising major urban development projects.
Mona Marzouk’s ‘Trayvon’ Takes Inspiration from Egyptian Courtrooms
Medrar TV reports on Mona Marzouk’s art exhibition.