[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
Egyptian rights group condemns displacement of five families in Minya by security forces
The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms has condemned security forces for forcing four families of the Zawyet Al-Gibaly village in Minya to leave their homes and lands after a fight broke out between a member of the Al-Shousha family and another of the Al-Sananoua family.
Govt: Egypt detains 119 Brotherhood members in one week
Security forces have rounded up 30 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in fresh security sweeps, bringing the total number of group members detained within the past week to 119, according to Egypt’s Interior Ministry.
Judge accused of `sexual bribery`
The accused judge had previously ruled in public opinion cases, including the acquittal of host Ahmed Moussa over the defamation of Free Egyptians Party leader Ossama Ghazaly Harb and the head of the Central Auditing Organization, Hisham Geneina.
Morsi`s son released after completing one-year drug sentence
Abdallah Morsi, the son of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, was released from prison on Tuesday after serving a one year-sentence for possession of hashish.
Egypt court sentences Mubarak-era PM to 5 years over graft
Ahram Online reports.
Fresh detainee torture claims emerge from Tora Prison
Rights advocates have recounted further alleged cases of detainees torture, with violations amounting to denial of medication.
Cairo court fines TV host Ahmed Moussa for slander, again
A Cairo misdemeanor court fined controversial TV hosts Ahmed Moussa and Khaled Bakr on Sunday for slandering lawyer Tarek El-Awady.
One-year sentence for Egyptian belly-dancer `inciting debauchery` reduced to 6 months
An appeals court reduced Sunday the one-year prison sentence against Reda El-Fouly, known publicly as Salma El-Fouly, to six months on charges of “inciting debauchery and immorality" after appearing in a revealing dress on YouTube.
Lawyer claims police beat key witness in torture case until unconscious
Witness was due to give evidence on 4 August regarding the death of Sayed al-Kosbary, before he was taken to the police station in his hometown of Rosetta, where the incident took place.
Ten Bibliotheca Alexandrina employees sentenced to a year in prison, eight acquitted
Defendants were allegedly protesting against Serageldin and demanding his dismissal for squandering Bibliotheca assets.
Six sentenced to death over 2013 torching of Ghad al-Thawra Party headquarters
Mada Masr reports.
Right to Information Law to criminalize spreading rumors on social networks
A government source told Al-Watan that the new law will criminalize spreading rumors on social media that could potentially harm the state, with punishments ranging from monetary fines to imprisonment.
Photojournalist Shawkan`s hearing adjourned after 700 days detention without charge
Shawkan was arrested in August 2013 while covering the dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya pro-Morsi sit-in.
HRW report documents dozens of forced disappearances since 2014
The report documents dozens of cases of secret detentions and state security-enforced disappearances in Egypt since April 2014.
Top auditor Hesham Geneina talks to Mada Masr about the quest to oust him
Corruption watchdog claims in exclusive interview that new legislation threatens transparency.
Economy
Report: Factory, public sector workers at forefront of labor protests
The El-Mahrousa Center for Socioeconomic Development has monitored 385 labor protests in the second quarter of 2015, with protests of workers of private factories and public sector companies at the forefront.
Trade unions lobbying fiercely against civil service law
If enacted, the law would reportedly reduce annual bonuses.
Egypt begins first trial ship-crossing in new Suez Canal channel
The official opening of the new 72-kilometre shipping lane is schedule to for 6 August, in the presence of an invited audience of world leaders.
Egyptian court rules in favor of firing striking court employees
The Supreme Administrative Court ruled that four court employees who disrupted sessions with a protest should be fired
Public sector workers protest civil service law, plan more protests in August
Hundreds of Central Agency for Organization and Management employees protested in front of their workplace in Cairo on Monday demanding the repeal of the new civil service law.
Egypt`s trade deficit up 52.7 percent in April
State statistics agency CAPMAS attributes the decline in export values to lower prices for goods, including crude oil and textiles.
Domestic Security
What a choice for Egypt – a megalomaniac president or the madness of Isis
Robert Fisk writes, “Egypt is, in fact, following the path of so many other countries that are being torn apart by Isis. For, if you torture your people enough, Isis will germinate in their wounds.”
Egypt PM extends North Sinai curfew for three months
Ahram Online reports.
Eighteen soldiers injured by roadside bomb in Egypt`s Al-Arish
The attack was claimed by Sinai Province Islamist militant group
Fascism Incorporated: Our fault
Amr Khalifa writes, “History has known many who have committed crimes, but to fall to such lows, those criminals must have partners. In millions of Egyptians, tragically, Al-Sisi has found such partners.”
Foreign Policy
Egypt rejects `Iran’s interference in Arab countries’ domestic affairs`
The statement comes after Iran’s supreme leader said that Iran backs the “oppressed people” in Bahrain.
Egypt’s Sisi to meet with French defense minister in Cairo
Visit comes after Egypt received the first batch of a multi-billion French warplanes deal.
Exclusive Wikileaks cables trace ebb and flow of Egypt-UAE relations
Mada Masr reports on a number of documents from the Saudi Foreign Ministry recently released by Wikileaks. The documents cast light on Egypt`s capricious relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).