[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
Journalist claims illegal detention, files complaint with prosecutor general
Al-Shorouk journalist Haitham Radwan filed a complaint at the prosecutor general’s office on Tuesday against Talbiya police station for his illegal detention.
Five sentenced to prison in first conviction under anti-terror law
In what has been described as "the first case of enforcement" of Egypt’s latest anti-terrorism law, controversial Judge Nagy Shehata sentenced five individuals — including two minors — to prison on charges of partaking in an unauthorized protest.
Egypt court rejects Mahinour El-Masry’s legal challenge, upholds sentence
This is the second time that socialist activist El-Masry has received a prison sentence after being convicted of illegally protesting in 2013
25 January revolution graffiti wall near iconic Tahrir Square demolished
The wall was demolished as part of a Tahrir Square renovation plan
Egypt`s `Rabaa Dispersal` trial to begin on 12 December
The case charges 739 defendants, including the Brotherhood`s Supreme Guide Mohamed Baide and one if its most prominent members Mohamed El-Beltagy, alongside other senior Brotherhood members.
Egypt court sentences eight Brotherhood members to death
The total number of people convicted in the case was 119 members of the Brotherhood accused of setting fire to a police station in Minya`s Samalut, stealing weapons and ammunition and killing two policemen.
Wasat Party revised policy since leader’s release
The moderate Islamist Wasat Party has declared it revised its policies since the release of its leader from custody detention last month, yet another sign that it might break with its past support for deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
Sisi appoints Nabil Sadek as new prosecutor general
Sadek was formerly heading the president of the Cassation Court’s technical office.
Attack against Mexican Tourists
Egypt offers Mexico condolences, but no apologies
The Egyptian government offers no direct apologies for the killing of Mexican tourists in Sinai, only promises that investigations are still ongoing in order to determine if there was any wrongdoing.
Mexico demands compensation for victims of military airstrike
Mexico is demanding compensation for the families of the tourists who were killed in an accidental military airstrike in Egypt’s Western Desert last Sunday, as Egyptian officials wage a battle against unflattering media coverage of the tragedy.
Mexico expects thorough Egypt investigation into killing of tourists
Ahram Online reports.
Foreign Ministry continues spat with NYT over coverage of tourist killings
The spat between Foreign Ministry spokesperson and the New York Times continued, as the ministry called the paper’s coverage of the killing of eight Mexican tourists in the Western Desert “misleading and untrue.”
What really happened in the Western Desert?
As defense officials stay silent, other sources give conflicting details on the military attack that killed twelve people.
Timeline: How Egypt and Mexico communicated the tourist killings
Despite the foreign minister’s promise of transparency, Egypt’s official investigation into the tragedy will not be reported on because of a media gag.
Egypt`s President Sisi receives Mexico’s FM after accidental killing of Mexican tourists
Ahram Online reports.
Economy
Foreign firms deny labor, human rights violations in Suez Canal project
Two foreign consortia contracted to carry out dredging work on the Suez Canal expansion have denied violating the human and labor rights of local workers hired for the project.
Trade deficit widens in June, putting pressure on the pound
The widening deficit — one of the key drivers of the foreign currency shortage — was driven by both an increase in imports and a decline in exports.
Tax Authority employees request dismissal of finance and planning ministers
Tax Authority employees who are rejecting the Civil Service law have requested the dismissal of Finance Minister Hany Qadry Demian and Planning Minister Ashraf al-Araby for failing to resolve their problem with the law.
Domestic Security
The cost of the Sinai war
Residents describe recent attacks by the military in Sheikh Zuwayed.
Bomb explodes outside Foreign Ministry office in Cairo
A bomb exploded outside a public service office affiliated with the Foreign Ministry in Mohandessin, west of Cairo on Sunday, a security source has said.
New Cabinet
Egypt`s new Cabinet: What changed and what didn`t?
The new Cabinet includes sixteen new ministers out of thirty-three total positions.
Who`s Who in Egypt`s New Cabinet
Ahram Online compiles biographies of the Prime Minister, and his 33-minister cabinet.
Education minister off Facebook after viral jabs on misspelling
Newly-appointed Education Minister al-Helaly al-Sherbiny was so overwhelmed by a wave of jabs and satire over several instances of misspelling and factual mistakes on his Facebook page that he removed all of his earlier posts.
Elections
Why is Sisi afraid of the Constitution and parliament?
Mada Masr explores possible explanations for Sisi’s recent critical remarks about the constitution and the powers it grants the legislature.
Terrorism attempts up thirty-five percent between September 4-10: Election monitors
A coalition of NGOs monitoring the upcoming parliamentary elections in October has detected an increase in violent incidents, coinciding with preparations for the polls.
From the ship to the faucet: The power of election symbols
As candidates rush to select their symbols for Egypt’s upcoming parliamentary elections, Mada Masr examines the significance of these choices.
Wafd Party reform movement launches `Clean Vote` campaign to fight election bribes
The Wafd Party`s reform movement has launched a campaign entitled “Clean Vote”, which aims to fight bribes on buying votes.
Egypt’s Sisi invites US Congress delegation to observe parliamentary polls
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with a US Congress delegation on Saturday in Cairo, and invited the group to monitor Egypt`s parliamentary elections, scheduled to start in October.
Nour Party, Egypt`s political Islam sole survivor, left with dim election hopes
While Nour is Egypt`s largest remaining Islamist party after two years of security crackdowns on the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters, its political and electoral aspirations are limited
Egypt`s initial list of 2015 parliamentary candidates announced
Ahram Online reports.
TV Host Tawfik Okasha’s candidacy papers rejected by HEC
A review of his bank account by the HEC in Daqahliya revealed that Okasha’s bank account was invalid. As a result of his invalid account, the HEC decided to exclude him from running in the parliamentary elections.
Foreign Policy
UK won`t leave Egypt to stand alone against terrorism: Ambassador
The statement came after a four-day visit to the UK by Egypt’s chief of defense staff, Mahmoud Hegazy.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
ما آلت إليه الثورة المصرية: لقاء جديد مع الروائي المصري صنع الله ابراهيم