The decree was issued in the official gazette dated Sunday. The number of pardoned prisoners has not been declared yet, though the Ministry of Interior is expected to announce it next week following their release.

Those pardoned will not pose a threat to national security and may be subject to police supervision for five years, according to the decree.

The Egyptian constitution allows the president to issue pardons for prisoners who have received final court rulings. Presidential pardons are typically issued several times a year in conjunction with national and religious holidays.

In related news, the public prosecution recently ordered the release of 41 pretrial detainees.

Hundreds of pretrial detainees have been released in successive batches since the spring of 2022 following the reactivation of the Presidential Pardon Committee ahead of the national dialogue which is set to begin in May.

The committee, first established in 2016, reviews cases for political prisoners and recommends their release based on requests from entities such as the National Council for Human Rights and Parliament's Human Rights Committee, or through its website.