In a statement, the trustee board said the president's heeding of the call to release more pretrial detainees reflects his serious interest in addressing this matter.
On Monday, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered the release of 79 pretrial detainees as the National Dialogue gears up for a special session on Tuesday to discuss proposals for amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedures Law to shorten and streamline pretrial detention.
Since the start of the National Dialogue in 2022, the prosecution has ordered the release of hundreds of pretrial detainees as representatives of the government and opposition forces hash out ways to reach recommendations and consensus on various issues toward implementing political reform.
The state security prosecution's decision Monday comes a day before the National Dialogue Board of Trustees scheduled session to discuss pretrial detention, its governing rules, and related issues as part of the country’s National Human Rights Strategy.
In an official statement, the trustee board affirmed its keenness to discuss proposals for amendments in the Criminal Procedures Law, which would ensure a speedy and fair trial and safeguard human rights.
The National Dialogue also thanked the Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfik and the Prosecutor General Mohamed Shawki for the great effort they made to complete the procedures for the releasing of the new batch of detainees.
"This decision, which comes in response to the appeal of the National Dialogue's Board of Trustees creates necessary favourable conditions to ensure the success of the National Dialogue," read the statement.
Timely decision
For his part, Hossam Abu Zeid, a member of the House of Representatives, praised President El-Sisi's decision, stressing the significance of its timeliness ahead of the upcoming National Dialogue’s special sessions on pretrial detention on Tuesday.
Abu Zeid praised El-Sisi’s keenness to refer the pretrial detention file to the National Dialogue for a societal dialogue among various political forces, adding that the decision "demonstrates the state’s commitment to bolstering human rights and advancing its National Human Rights Strategy."
"The release of the detainees is a step towards building a society characterized by justice and tolerance, fostering a climate of trust, and encouraging broad public participation in the nation’s development, Abu Zeid added.
On Monday, rights lawyer Khaled Ali said those detainees released included Ziad Mohamed Ahmed El-Bassiouny and Mazen Ahmed Ezzat Daraz, two members of the Students for Palestine solidarity campaign.
Earlier in July, the trustee board of the dialogue convened to discuss several topics, including proposing new legislation for pretrial detention.
The National Dialogue was launched in 2022 upon a call from President El-Sisi to address Egypt's diverse political, economic, and social issues.
In August 2023, the first round of discussions concluded with recommendations that were submitted to El-Sisi.
In January 2024, the president called for a second round of National Dialogue discussions to tackle economic challenges.
Journalists Syndicate
On Monday, the Journalists Syndicate renewed its call for the release of 23 journalists in pretrial detention.
In a statement, the Press Freedom Committee in the syndicate called for the release of journalist and political cartoonist Ashraf Omar, who was reportedly arrested on Monday morning.
The committee expressed "full solidarity" with Omar in his right to freedom of expression as a journalist and cartoonist.
The committee said a recent political cartoon by Omar in Manasaa Platform which addressed the electricity crisis falls under a legitimate expression of "people's everyday struggles."
In tandem, the statement noted that the head of the Journalists' Syndicate, Khaled El-Balshi, has filed a request asking the Prosecutor General to reveal the causes behind Omar's detention and demanding his release.
In the statement, the committee also called for the release of journalist Khaled Mamdouh, who was reportedly arrested last week and appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on Sunday. On Monday, the prosecution ordered a 15-day detention for Mamdouh pending investigations in case 1282/2024.
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