[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
18 detained following sectarian violence in Beni Suef Beni Suef prosecution ordered the detention of eighteen people for four days following sectarian clashes that took place in one of the governorate’s villages on Friday.
Priest’s cousin killed, 3 injured in Minya sectarian violence One person was killed and three others injured in another incident of sectarian violence in Minya on Sunday night, Minya Bishop Makaryous said in a statement.
Egyptian NGO warns of rising sectarian strife in Minya The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said on Monday that it was "disturbed" with the heightening sectarian violence in Minya, and warned of the state`s approach to these violations.
Civil society absent amid sectarian tensions in Minya Civil society institutions stood with their hands tied, unable to calm down a broiling situation of sectarian strife that has been unfolding over the past years and recently grew in intensity in Minya, Upper Egypt.
Sisi says sectarian violence `causes rifts among Egyptians` In a speech Thursday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated there have been recent attempts to create rifts among Egyptians and destroy national unity, in reference to a series of incidents of sectarian violence against Coptic Christians in Upper Egypt.
April 25 protesters appeal against hefty fines Forty-seven islands` transfer protesters whose five-year prison sentence was revoked in May appealed on Thursday the hefty 100,000 LE fine imposed on them before the Court of Cassation.
Egypt`s detained photojournalist Shawkan wins press freedom award The Committee to Protect Journalists announced on Monday imprisoned Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid “Shawkan” as one of four recipients of its 2016 International Press Freedom Awards.
Trial of policemen involved in assualt on hospital postponed to Sept The Matariya court decided on Tuesday to postpone the trial of nine low ranking policemen, involved in a case of police abuse in the Matariya Teaching hospital case, to 20 September.
Human rights lawyer Malek Adly`s detention extended for another 15 days Egypt`s prosecution renewed on Monday the detention of human rights lawyer Malek Adly for fifteen days pending investigations.
Egypt`s govt appeals against decision to overturn freeze on Aboutrika`s assets Egypt`s State Lawsuits Authority has appealed on Sunday against a court`s ruling that canceled the decision to seize renowned Egyptian footballer Mohamed Aboutrika’s assets.
Parliament issues amendments to trade union law While a new law regulating Egypt’s labor unions has yet to be issued, a majority of parliamentarians voted in favor of four amendments to the trade union law on Tuesday.
Parliamentarian Ahmed Mortada Mansour loses seat to Shobaki by court order An Egyptian court annulled on Wednesday the membership of parliamentarian Ahmed Mortada Mansour and ruled in favor of Amr al-Shobaki as the Member of Parliament for the Agouza and Dokki constituency, Cassation Court Judge Adel al-Shorbagy said.
Egypt court sentences 7 students to 15 years in prison A Cairo court sentenced seven students on Monday to fifteen years in prison on charges of violence that took place at Ain Shams University last year.
Egypt launches program to shelter 16,000 homeless children The Social Solidarity Ministry announced Saturday the launch of a program to shelter and protect homeless children in ten governorates.
A week on: Al-Azhar scholars` objections to scripted Friday sermons A week ago, government authorities announced the decision to make all mosque preachers deliver an identical, government-approved sermon during Friday prayers. The sermons are to be written by officials from the Religious Endowments Ministry and senior clerics from Al-Azhar.
Economy
Dollar breaks LE12 barrier on black market, keeps rising The value of the Egyptian pound tumbled again on the black market over the weekend on Sunday, with black market rates exceeding 12 LE for the first time.
Egypt’s value added tax, explained With a new draft of the much-anticipated value added tax law finally up for discussion in Parliament, Egypt’s tax policy has become a hot topic in the news.
A visual guide to the 2016/17 budget After a very long wait, Egypt’s Ministry of Finance has released a breakdown of revenue and spending in the budget for the 2016/17 fiscal year, which began on 1 July. Although the ministry has not yet shared the actual budget law, this data gives the clearest picture yet of the government’s plans and priorities for the current year.
Foreign Relations
Turkey slams Egypt for blocking U.N. statement on coup attempt Turkey`s foreign ministry said Sunday that Egypt`s objection to the "democratically elected government" phrase in the United Nations Security Council statement was "natural."
Foreign Ministry slams Erdogan`s anti-Sisi remarks Egypt`s Foreign Ministry described President Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s behavior as “lacking proper judgment” in a statement early Thursday, after the Turkish leader criticized Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Russia awaits Egypt to fulfill airport security obligations An official at the Russian Transportation Ministry said on Wednesday that the expert committee looking into the Sharm al-Shiekh crash that killed over 200 passengers last October, is still waiting on its Egyptian counterpart to fulfill its obligations in the investigation.
British experts inspect security measures at Cairo airport A delegation of British experts arrived in Egypt to inspect security measures at Cairo International Airport.
Domestic Security
Parliament agrees to extend emergency rule in Sinai Egypt`s parliament voted in favor of the presidential decree No. 329, which calls for extending the state of emergency in North Sinai for three more months.
Sinai tells its own story As mainstream media depends on military press releases to report on Sinai, locals try to build a different narrative.