The presidential pardon came in response to the calls of parties, political movements, the coordinators of youth parties and politicians, and the Presidential Pardon Committee.

In a statement Monday, the council welcomed the step and said more than 1,000 prisoners have been recently released thanks to the work of the Presidential Pardon Committee.

Aside from El-Eleimy, the Egyptian president also pardoned Amr Ragab Qotb and Mohamed Aziz El-Gohary according to the pardon decree issued in the official gazette on Monday.