[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 authorities questioning labour activist Kamal Khalil The Egyptian prosecution is questioning prominent leftist and labor activist Kamal Khalil on charges of inciting illegal protest, spreading false news and insulting the president.
Young people detained from Azhar Park charged with forming ‘Union of Jerboa` Six young people arrested from Al-Azhar Park were handed a fifteen-day detention order on Friday and charged with forming a group called “Jerboa” and possession of 160 printed documents that allegedly “spread rumors and attempt to obstruct the law and the constitution.”
Six arrested in Nile Delta for plot to `exploit rising fuel prices to incite dissatisfaction`: Police Egypt’s interior ministry announced on Sunday that it raided a meeting of a cell of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group in the Nile Delta governorate of Daqahliya where attendees were discussing "how to incite popular dissatisfaction because of the rising fuel prices."
New lawsuit calls for injunction to halt transfer of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia Lawyer Khaled Ali filed a lawsuit with the Court of Administrative Justice on Wednesday to petition the court to halt any action or procedure that would cede Egypt’s control over the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia.
Egyptian court issues death sentences to 20 in Kerdasa police station attack, acquits 21 A Cairo criminal court on Sunday sentenced twenty defendants to death for their involvement in an attack on Kerdasa police station in August 2013 in which twelve policemen were killed.
Sisi appoints heads of judicial bodies excluding State Council President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appointed the heads of several judicial bodies on Thursday, an implementation of the controversial chief judicial appointments law passed in April.
The pro-democracy movement and June 30: Then and now On the fourth anniversary of this crucial point in the country’s political history, the article explores the various actors who made 30 June, 2013 possible, including: Pro-democracy political forces, the Salafi political movement, Coptic communities and the Coptic Church and Al-Azhar. What did they want back then, and where are they today?
Al-Azhar post-June 30: An ongoing dispute interrupted by a brief alliance Four years after being a key member in the military-led alliance to end the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Azhar’s ongoing tensions with Egypt’s executive authority rise to the surface.
Copts post-June 30: Can Sisi bank on continued Coptic support? The official position of the church in support of the regime has remained unchanged since June 30, 2013. However, behind the church’s official position of support there is a Coptic community, the majority of whom supported Sisi and his regime out of fear of the Brotherhood’s rule. While some Copts may question this support, like many others who support Sisi they are struggling to see an alternative to the current regime.
Economy
Egypt hikes fuel prices by up to 100% to save LE35 bn in budget Egypt increased fuel prices on Thursday morning by almost half their previous value, a move which is expected to save thirty-five billion LE in fuel subsidies Petroleum Minister Tarek al-Molla said in a press conference earlier today.
Egypt`s PM orders implementation of measures to alleviate economic burdens starting 1 July Egypt`s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has given government ministers a date of 1 July to start implementing a range of economic and social-security measures to lessen the economic burden on the average citizen.
Foreign Relations
Hamas begins to create buffer zone on Gaza-Egypt border The Hamas government has begun work on a twelve-kilometer-long buffer zone along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, according to a statement released by the Hamas Interior Ministry on Wednesday.
Hamas delegation in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks with Egyptian officials on security issues and Cairo’s assistance to the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip.
Egypt`s Sisi stresses to US lawmakers the necessity of confronting countries that support terrorism Egypt`s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Sunday during a meeting in Cairo with a US congressional delegation the necessity of taking clear and decisive actions against countries that support terrorism logistically and financially.
German experts to provide workshop for Egyptian army on combating IEDs A group of experts from Germany`s armed forces will provide a training workshop for members of the Egyptian army on dealing with improvised explosive devices, the German embassy in Cairo said on Thursday.
Egypt’s FM briefs German counterpart on reasons for cutting ties with Doha Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry briefed his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel over the phone on Saturday on the reasons behind Cairo cutting ties with Doha last month, as well as the latest developments in the situation, a foreign ministry statement said.
Egypt’s UN delegation blames Qatar, other unnamed country in the region for terrorism in Libya Egypt`s delegation to the UN said in a session on Tuesday that Qatar has supported terrorist organizations in Libya; the delegation called for sanctions on the Gulf state which is already in hot water with some of Arab states over these charges, a foreign affairs ministry statement read.
Egypt FM Shoukry discusses Libya updates and Qatari crisis with Britain FM Johnson Egypt`s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the latest developments in Libya and Syria with British counterpart Boris Johnson in a telephone call on Friday, the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs announced.
Updated: Egypt FM meets with African counterparts on sidelines of AU preparatory meetings Egypt`s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry met on Friday with his counterparts from Morocco, Nigeria, and Algeria on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings for the annual African Union summit set to be held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 3-4 July.
97 migrants detained off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast Egypt’s navy foiled on Saturday an attempt at irregular migration by ninety-seven people in a boat off the Alexandrian coast.
Egyptian MPs face investigation for attending Iranian opposition conference in Paris without permission Egyptian parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said on Saturday that five Members of Parliament will be referred to investigation after they traveled to France to attend the Annual Gathering of Iranian Resistance Conference without obtaining prior approval.
Domestic Security
Egypt`s cabinet approves extending state of emergency for another three months The Egyptian cabinet approved in a meeting on Thursday the extension of a nationwide state of emergency for another three months.
Armed groups target Endowments Ministry imam in North Sinai The killing of an imam under the purview of the Endowments Ministry by armed groups in Arish marks a new turn in the battle for control of the area, an official from the ministry told Mada Masr.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
حقوق المثليين والمثليات محكّ لحقوق الإنسان Gilbert Achcar examines the significance of homosexuality as a touchstone of progress in the human rights realm in light of the act of repression that took place against a Gay Pride march in Istanbul last week.
Arabic
«أمن القاهرة» يعلن حالة الاستنفار في ذكرى «30 يونيو» Security forces in Cairo announced a state of alert across Egypt in preparation for the fourth commemoration of the June 30 revolution on Thursday.
بالأرقام| حالة حقوق الإنسان بعد 30 يونيو.. سجون أكثر وانتهاكات تتزايد Human rights violations have been increasing in Egypt during the past four years, human rights organizations reported.
»الإخوان وقوى 30 يونيو.. 5 شروط لمشاركة الجماعة في استرداد «تيران وصنافير Representatives of opposition political forces set five conditions to cooperate with the Muslim Brotherhood in defending the Egypt’s sovereignty over Tiran and Sanafir islands.
بعد 4 سنوات.. أين ذهب رجال 30 يونيو؟ Key figures who participated in 30 June Revolution have taken up different roles in the current political scene.
بعد 4 سنوات... ما الذي تحقق من أهداف تظاهرات 30 يونيو؟ The article examines what has been achieved since 30 June 2013 revolution
سنوات على 30 يونيو.. أزمات هزت شعبية السيسي4 Sisi’s popularity has dwindled considerably due to crises over the past four years including the maritime demarcation agreement and price hikes, experts say.
الرابحُ يبقى وحيدًا».. كيف تخلَّص النظام المصري من كل الذين ساعدوه؟« The article explains how Sisi gradually overthrew all those who helped him reach power.
"أربع سنوات على دولة 30 يونيو.. ."الأخ الأكبر يحكم بقسوة The article draws a parallel between Orwellian Big Brother and the post-30 June state of Egypt.
من مفكرة ثورة يونيو المصرية: الإعلام وتحدي النفق المظلم The Egyptian media played a significant role in toppling the Muslim Brotherhood rule in 30 June 2013.
»علانات الدولة في مصر: التطور الطبيعي لـ«المواطن الصالح The Egyptian TV ads have been used to whitewash the Egyptian state misdeeds and make citizens feel guilty.
!حول العملاق الذي لم يدغدغه باسم يوسف The post-30 June government set boundaries for the Egyptian media by banning anti-authority humor, alienating viewers from the political debate and direct criticism.
مصر | الرئاسة تقرّ اتفاقية تيران وصنافير... وحملة إعلامية لاحتواء الغضب Media campaigns have been directed in support of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi regime in an attempt to contain any wave of popular rage after Sisi’s ratification of the controversial maritime demarcation agreement as well as the adoption of new price increases for the new fiscal year slated for next week.
مصر | خالد علي يتحرك مجدداً: الاستفتاء على مصرية تيران وصنافير Prominent lawyer and former presidential candidate Khalid Ali filed a new lawsuit before the Administrative Court demanding that Tiran and Sanafir demarcation agreement be suspended and referred to the Constitutional Court.
حكاية 7 قوانين تجاهلها البرلمان في دور انعقاده الثاني The article reviews seven laws ignored by Parliament in its second legislative term session.
عام ونصف من عمر البرلمان.. من يعطل التصويت الإلكتروني؟ MPs urge Ali Abdel-Al to activate the electronic vote in parliament to indicate the exact number of deputies who approve or reject draft laws.
تجديد حبس 5 نشطاء بتهمة إهانة الرئيس Alexandria’s El Raml Misdemeanour Court renewed imprisonment of five activists for fifteen days over insulting the president charges.
في اليوم العالمي لمناهضة التعذيب.. متى يتوقف في مصر؟ Torture is continuing under Sisi’s regime, human rights reports stressed.
بين حملتي "الحق في المعرفة" و"حجب المواقع".. الحكومة تحتكر الحقيقة The Egyptian government manipulates media, imposing restrictions on journalists to obtain information.
المفوضية المصرية: اتهام شباب «الأزهر بارك» بتأسيس «اتحاد الجرابيع» وإثارة الشعب على اتفاقية ترسيم الحدود Six youth arrested at Al-Azhar park face charges of forming illegal group and publishing false news on Facebook, the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms reported.
تثبيت سعر الدولار الجمركي للشهر الرابع.. تعرف على السبب Ministry of Finance decided to keep the dollar exchange rate unchanged at 16.5 Egyptian pounds for one month starting 1 July.
اقتصاديون: 20% زيادة متوقعة فى أسعار المنتجات بعد رفع الوقود The government`s decision to raise the prices of petroleum may spur further increases in food and industrial products prices up to twenty percent, economists predict.
"بوتاجاسكو" تُفعّل قرار "الوزراء" بزيادة أسعار أسطوانات البوتوجاز The Egyptian Company for Gas, Transport and Conduct Putagasco said that it has started to implement the Council of Ministers decision to increase the prices of gas cylinder on Thursday.