A snap shot of prisoners walking in rehabilitation centre of 10th of Ramadan. Photo courtesy of Interior Ministry.
The move reflects the “commitment to promoting human rights values, implementing modern punitive policies … [and] offering comprehensive care to inmates in rehabilitation centres,” the ministry said.
Coptic Orthodox Egyptians, who constitute 90 percent of Egypt's Christian population, celebrate Christmas on 7 January according to the Julian calendar.
Smaller Egyptian Christian denominations, such as Catholics and Evangelicals, celebrate Christmas on 25 December as per the Gregorian Calendar.
Egypt designates 7 January as a public holiday for Coptic Christmas.
A second chance
Recently, Egypt started establishing modern rehabilitation and correctional centres as a substitute for traditional prisons.
According to the interior ministry, the move is one of the fundamental priorities within the punitive enforcement system, aligning with the country’s recently released National Human Rights Strategy.
The new centres aim to meet the highest international human rights standards and modern technology and help re-integrate prisoners into society after serving their sentences.
Under the prison law, the management of public correction and rehabilitation centres is obliged to encourage inmates to access education, facilitate learning, and support those who wish to continue their studies
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