[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
Freedom for the Black Gown: New campaign calls for release of detained rights lawyers Egyptian activists have launched a campaign dubbed “Freedom for the Black Gown” to call for the release of human rights lawyers detained in politically-motivated charges.
Cairo court orders release of activist Zizo Abdo with conditions A Cairo court ordered the release of April 6 leader Zizo Abdo on Sunday, pending investigations into charges of belonging to an outlawed organization and inciting protests, according to lawyer Mokhtar Mounir.
Court orders release of rights activist Ahmed Abdullah for second time A North Cairo court ordered late Sunday the release of the director of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms Ahmed Abdallah and four others for the second time.
Military court postpones verdict against Alexandria workers over strike A military court in the coastal city of Alexandria postponed on Sunday to 18 October its verdict against twenty-seven workers of a state-owned ship building company over protests for better work conditions in May.
Egypt court freezes assets of Hossam Bahgat, Gamal Eid, other rights defenders The Cairo Criminal Court accepted on Saturday the prosecution`s request to freeze the assets of a number of human rights defenders and organizations in connection with case number 173 (2011), known as the “Foreign Funding Case.”
Egyptian human rights defenders vow to continue work after asset freeze A request to freeze the assets of some of Egypt’s most prominent rights organizations and rights defenders was accepted in court on Saturday, in a long-running investigation into receipt of foreign funds with the aim of endangering national security.
Foreign powers aim to discredit Egypt`s leadership - State newspaper Terrorist attacks in the Sinai Peninsula will intensify in the coming period to serve a plot by foreign powers against Egypt.
Sectarianism strikes again in Minya, police arrest Coptic man hospitalized in ICU Sectarian violence erupted in the village of Ezbet Assem, in the governorate of Minya on Monday following a traffic dispute and subsequent brawl.
Egypt`s church building law upholds restrictions over church construction - HRW Human Rights Watch described Egypt`s recently adopted church building law as discriminatory against Christians due to various stipulations that maintain "restrictions over the construction and renovation of churches."
Presidential pardons disappoint political prisoners While supporters of the Egyptian government have praised the decision to pardon 759 prisoners by presidential decree; opponents have criticized the fact that all of those released had been jailed for criminal charges, continuing to leave political prisoners behind bars.
Egyptian probe into Russian plane crash yet to find its causes - sources The Egypt-led committee tasked with investigating the causes of the Russian airliner crash last October in North Sinai, has yet to reach any results on its causes, sources within the aviation ministry said on Tuesday.
Egypt`s ministry says has no reports of TNT traces in EgyptAir MS804 wreckage Egypt`s civil aviation ministry said on Saturday that the Egyptian committee investigating the crash of EgyptAir plane in May over the Mediterranean did not receive any new evidence from French investigators, a day after a French newspaper reported that their side found traces of TNT in the plane`s debris.
Regeni`s family say they `will not stop` until they learn the truth of his death The family of slain PhD student, Guilio Regeni, said that they "will not stop working for the investigations to uncover the truth of his killing.”
Economy
Hard currency shortage weighs heavily on Egyptians travelling abroad Driven by shortage in hard currency, several Egyptian banks were prompted to impose restrictions on foreign currency withdrawal and purchase limits abroad to alleviate the pressure on the Egyptian pound, placing it instead on travelers.
Wheat suppliers shun Egypt`s purchase tender over ergot policy Egypt was expected to cancel its second consecutive international wheat tender on Friday after it failed to receive any offers from suppliers due to its strict ergot fungus ban which could cut off its access to grain supplies from abroad.
Egypt`s hotel rates rise despite struggling tourism sector Despite the tremendous drop in occupancy rates, revenues and tourist arrivals in the past few months, hotels across Egypt saw major rate increases during the Eid vacation.
Foreign Relations
US Congressmen call for Aya Hegazy’s release from prison Two United States Congressmen have called for the immediate release of Aya Hegazy, a dual citizen of the US and Egypt who has been in prison for over two years on what her family say are false charges.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry denounces US calls for Aya Hegazy’s release Egypt’s Foreign Ministry urged the United States to respect the rule of law after calls for Aya Hegazy’s release, claiming allegations against her have been ignored by the US because of her American citizenship.
Russia bans imports of Egyptian fruits and vegetables Russia announced it would temporarily ban the import of all Egyptian fruits and vegetables on Friday.
Powerlifting success lifts Egypt to 26th in medal ranking at Rio Paralympics Egyptian Paralympic athletes have turned in notable performances this week at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro summer games, racking up three gold, five silver and three bronze medals.
KLM to suspend all flights to Cairo starting January 8 Royal Dutch Airlines KLM announced that it will temporarily suspend flights to Cairo starting January 8 “for economic reasons” on Wednesday.
Egypt to receive second French Mistral helicopter carrier on Friday Egypt is set to receive the second French Mistral helicopter on Friday.
Egypt to participate in 17th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement in Venezuela Egypt`s deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral Relations and International Security Hesham Badr will participate in the seventeenth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, which is set to take place on 17 and 18 September on Venezuela`s Margarita island.
El-Sisi calls for combating terrorism, spread of nuclear weapons in Venezuela summit Egypt`s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday called on the international community to work towards curtailing the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction as well as combating terrorism during a meeting of a large Cold War-era bloc in Venezuela.
Egypt, Turkey FMs meet in Venezuela on sidelines of non-aligned summit A meeting was held between Egypt`s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Turkey`s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Venezuela, the official Twitter account of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said on Saturday.
Sisi to present vision on `solving regional crises` to UN General Assembly Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi is set to present Egypt’s vision on efforts being made to settle regional crises in front of the UN’s General Assembly, according to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
Hillary Clinton to meet Egypt`s Sisi next week: Campaign Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will meet with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi next week during the UN General Assembly, her campaign announced Wednesday.
A parliament delegation to visit New York to rally support for Egypt`s reforms Twenty Egyptian MPs will head to New York on Sunday to participate in the upcoming UN General Assembly meetings.
Domestic Security
Recently formed militant group claims responsibility for 3rd operation A recently formed group claimed responsibility for the killing of a low-ranking policeman in 6th of October City on the outskirts of Cairo last Thursday.