The new headquarter of Egyptian National Council for Human rights in New Cairo. Photo courtesy of NCHR.
In a statement, the council said the decision reflects the president’s constitutional authority to grant pardons and shows progress toward strengthening justice and respect for rights and freedoms.
The NCHR added that the move highlights the value of institutional cooperation and underlines its role as the national body responsible for protecting and promoting human rights.
It noted that the presidential pardons are significant not only for the prisoners’ families but also as an application of the principle that punishment should be proportionate and aimed at rehabilitation.
“This reinforces the constitutional principle that prioritizes human dignity and the right to reintegration,” the council said.
The statement said the decision supports Egypt’s National Human Rights Strategy and signals that balancing justice with compassion is now a guiding principle of public policy.
The council described the pardons as a positive response to civil society demands and a message of hope for the reintegration of former prisoners, helping promote social peace and strengthen trust between the state and citizens.
The NCHR reaffirmed its commitment to recommend penal reform policies, expand alternatives to imprisonment, and ensure that Egypt upholds its constitutional obligations and international agreements.
According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi granted the pardons on Monday after completing the necessary legal procedures and following a direct appeal from the NCHR on 8 September, which came after repeated requests from the prisoners’ families.
Those pardoned are Alaa Ahmed Seif El-Islam Abdel-Fattah Hamad, Saeed Magally Al-Dou Aliwa, Karam Abdel Samee Ismail Al-Saadany, Walaa Gamal Saad Mohamed, Mohamed Abdel Khalek Abdel Aziz Abdel Latif, and Mansour Abdel Gaber Ali Abdel Razek.
The Egyptian constitution allows the president to grant pardons and commute sentences.
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