[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
Reporters Without Borders decries persecution of journalists under Sisi The situation of journalists in Egypt is unacceptable,” the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders declared in a letter sent to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday.
Egypt’s press syndicate issues formal complaint over conditions of jailed journalists Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate has filed a complaint with the prosecution and the interior ministry criticizing the mistreatment of a group of imprisoned journalists.
Journalists in Aqrab Prison start hunger strike, protest ‘slow death’ behind bars Nine Egyptian journalists serving sentences in Aqrab Prison, the maximum-security section of Cairo`s Tora prison complex, have started a hunger strike “against mistreatment and poor living conditions in detention.”
Hunger-striking journalists transferred to prison hospital Journalists Hesham Gaafar and Hossam al-Sayed were transferred to Tora prison hospital as their health deteriorated due to lack of food and poor prison conditions.
Young man detained for anti-torture T-shirt suffers from health complications in prison Mahmoud Mohamed, a young man detained for wearing an anti-torture t-shirt, is suffering from health complications in prison, according to a statement posted on Facebook by his brother.
Conflicting accounts in case of 4-year-old sentenced to life in prison Denying a flurry of media reports to the contrary, the Armed Forces released a statement Monday declaring that a four-year-old boy has not been sentenced to life in prison by a military court, but rather a sixteen-year-old boy of a similar name.
Lawyers Syndicate calls for strike to confront police crisis Sameh Ashour, the head of the Lawyers Syndicate, called for a series of measures to be taken against the Ministry of Interior after the disappearance of lawyer Ibrahim Abdul Moneim Abo Gamos in the governorate of Sharqeya.
Prime minister promises new `model police stations` to appease outraged public The Egyptian government is planning to create “model police stations” to provide “distinguished services” to citizens, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail announced Monday, adding that the stations would open nationwide within two and a half years.
A confrontation between the Interior Ministry and angry policemen A crisis between Egypt’s Interior Ministry and police forces escalated this week, with seven leaders of a coalition of police sergeants and personnel who are critical of the ministry arrested on their way to a television appearance.
Doctors launch campaign for `free healthcare` across Egypt On Saturday, the Doctors Syndicate embarked a nationwide campaign in public hospitals dubbed “Free Healthcare is Your Right.”
Health minister sues Doctors Syndicate Health Minister Ahmed Rady is suing the Doctors Syndicate to overturn a series of resolutions they passed during an extraordinary general assembly meeting earlier this month, calling their decisions invalid and unlawful.
Al-Nadeem defiant in face of Health Ministry claims of illegality Al-Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence responded formally on Thursday to accusations by the Health Ministry that the center has been closed over illegal, unregistered practices.
Several political trials adjourned on technicalities A case in which three political activists have been accused of assaulting police officers was adjourned to 5 March, as police could not afford to transfer the defendants from prison, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights asserted on Sunday.
Culture minister attends conference in solidarity with jailed novelist Ahmed Naji Culture Minister Helmy al-Namnam attended a press conference Thursday held in solidarity with novelist Ahmed Naji, who was sentenced to two years in prison this week on charges of harming public morality.
`Writer Ahmed Naji`s jail verdict unconstitutional,` say 7 authors of Egypt`s constitution The authors stress article sixty-seven of the constitution stipulates that freedom of artistic and literary creation is guaranteed and that the state shall promote art and literature.
Judge detained during disciplinary board hearing Judge Amir Awad was arrested on Monday during a judicial disciplinary board hearing for the appeal of thirty-one justices forced into early retirement two years ago for their support of former President Mohamed Morsi.
Egypt MP Okasha faces `shoe assault` in parliament over hosting Israel ambassador Upon entering the plenary chamber of Egypt`s parliament on Sunday morning, controversial MP and TV host Tawfik Okasha was struck with a shoe wielded by MP Kamal Ahmed, the oldest member of parliament.
MP Tawfiq Okasha investigated for hosting Israeli ambassador A special parliamentary committee has been tasked with investigating member of parliament Tawfiq Okasha’s meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Egypt in his home last Wednesday.
Egypt`s Interior Ministry: Regeni`s murder possible act of vengeance Egypt`s Interior Ministry stated on Wednesday that ongoing investigations into the murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni have not ruled out any possibilities, including the suspicion of “revenge for personal motives,” especially as he “enjoyed multiple relationships” in Egypt.
Italy seeks more access to Egyptian probe into student murder Italy on Wednesday said Egyptian investigators should hand over the evidence they had uncovered in the death of an Italian graduate student who was tortured and killed in Cairo.
AUC remembers Giulio Regeni, protests university`s position on his murder A memorial service was held on Wednesday at the American University in Cairo for Italian PhD student Giulio Regeni, who was found brutally murdered early this month after a nearly ten-day disappearance.
Authorities prevent Hossam Bahgat from traveling through Cairo Airport On Tuesday, security officials at Cairo International Airport informed human rights activist and Mada Masr contributor Hossam Bahgat that he has been placed on a list of individuals barred from travel.
3 Coptic teens handed maximum 5-year prison sentence for insulting Islam A court in Minya sentenced three Coptic teenagers to five years in prison on Thursday and referred a fourth to juvenile detention for insulting the Islamic religion.
Egyptian parliament member proposes bill to repeal `contempt of religion` law An Egyptian parliament member introduced a bill to repeal an article of the penal code related to the charge of "contempt of religion," for which several public figures were handed down prison sentences in recent months.
Privacy International reveals intelligence unit tasked with acquiring surveillance tools An Egyptian intelligence unit tasked with acquiring surveillance tools has been exposed in a report released Wednesday by London-based watchdog Privacy International.
Sisi: Don`t listen to anyone but me In a televised address on Wednesday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi outlined his government’s envisioned strategy for sustainable development, dubbed “Egypt 2030.” Sisi started by telling Egyptians the country is being subjected to conspiracies against the state and the national economy.
Dozens protest ban on niqab at Cairo University Dozens of Cairo University students, faculty members and medical staff protested on Sunday against a ban on wearing niqab, both on campus and at university-affiliated medical centers.
Economy
Arms sales to Egypt skyrocketed in 2015 Egypt’s arms imports have shot up since the 2011 revolution, with sales particularly high in 2015, according to data released this week.
African Export-Import Bank provides US$500 million in import financing The African Export-Import Bank and the Central Bank of Egypt signed a 500 million USD financing agreement aimed at maintaining the flow of strategic commodities into Egypt, as the country faces an increasingly severe shortage of foreign currency.
High-profile attendees, low-profile deals at Africa Business Forum Egypt attracted the heads of state of six African countries, along with numerous ministers and businesspeople, to a “Africa 2016” Sharm el-Sheikh summit taglined, “Business for Africa, Egypt and the World.” Yet, despite the high-profile attendees, the summit appears to have failed to yield headline-grabbing deals.
With canal revenue still in the doldrums, Egypt launches new shipping channel Amid relatively restrained fanfare, Egypt inaugurated the East Port Said Canal, a 9.5 kilometer long side-channel that links the East Port Said Harbor directly to the Mediterranean Sea.
Foreign Relations
The world should support Egypt in security and economy, says British ambassador During a one-day conference organised by the Egyptian tourism ministry, British ambassador John Casson said UK will not leave Egypt to stand alone in fighting terrorism and strengthening tourism.
Egypt`s Sisi starts third Asian tour on Friday Egypt`s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi began on Friday an Asian tour that includes Kazakhstan, Japan and South Korea.
Sisi stresses on Egypt-Kazakhstan cooperation in development projects Egypt`s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said his country and Kazakhstan are keen on strengthening bilateral economic and commercial relations, and especially boosting cooperation in the developmental sectors, during a press conference Friday with Kazakhstan President Nursultan Abishevich Nazabayev.
Egypt wants 100,000 of its students to study in Japan: President Sisi Egypt`s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi aims to send 100,000 Egyptian students to study in Japan, he told Japanese news outlet The Asahi Shimbun.
Egypt to sign soft loans of $575 mln with Japan, South Korea: Source Egypt will sign three concessional loan agreements with Japan and one with South Korea worth a total of 575 million USD to finance projects in energy and transportation.
Israeli embassy suggests holding "friendly" sports game with Egypt The Israeli Embassy in Egypt called on Facebook users to share their opinions about the possibility of holding a "friendly" sports game between the Egyptian and Israeli teams, on Sunday.
Domestic Security
Student killed, 7 injured in explosion in Al-Arish An eighteen-year-old university student was killed, and seven others were injured Monday when an explosive device detonated on al-Bahr street in North Sinai`s al-Arish.
Four policemen shot dead in Egypt’s Qalyoubiya Unknown assailants shot dead four policemen on duty in Egypt’s Qalyoubiya governorate on Sunday.
Police captain shot dead in North Sinai`s Al-Arish Sunday In the early hours of Sunday, police captain Abdallah Khalil Abdel-Gawad was shot dead in front of his house by unknown assailants in the North Sinai town of al-Arish, the interior ministry said in a statement.
Policeman killed in Egypt`s Giza An Egyptian policeman was killed on Friday in Egypt`s Giza governorate at a railway crossing by unknown assailants.
Two car bombs defused in a Giza street Three residential buildings in Giza were evacuated early on Friday after security forces received reports of explosives in the area and defused bombs in two nearby cars.
Roadside bomb kills 2 policemen in Egypt`s North Sinai A roadside bomb killed two policemen in Karam al-Qawadees in Egypt`s North Sinai on Tuesday.
Two Brotherhood members killed in shoot-out with Egyptian police: Source Two members of the Muslim Brotherhood were killed on Friday in a shoot-out with security forces in Damietta, according to an official source at the interior ministry.
Egyptian troops kill 9 militants in North Sinai operation: MENA Egyptian troops killed nine militants and arrested several other suspects in Rafah on Wednesday.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
New York Event--The Fall of the Turkish Model: How the Arab Uprisings Brought Down Islamic Liberalism (March 1 @ 12.30pm) Cihan Tuğal will give a lecture on the demise of Islamic liberalism in Egypt and Tunisia, once seen as the most likely followers of the Turkish model, providing a path-breaking examination of their regimes and Islamist movements, as well as paradigm-shifting accounts of Turkey and Iran.
"مترجماً الخوف منهن في "ترجمة النساء Ali Ayd reviews Wadah Sharara`s new book entitled "Women`s Translation."