Top News: Alexandria Student Dies after Sustaining Birdshot Injuries

 

A student has died in hospital after being injured last week in clashes with police at Alexandria University. Omar Sherif is the first fatality in clashes that have rocked Egyptian universities since the beginning of term on October 11.

POLITICS

Districting law nearing completion, says minister
Transitional Justice Minister Ibrahim al-Hennedy and a committee overlooking the drafting of a new electoral districts law will start meeting on Tuesday to discuss the final draft. Hennedy told Ahram that the law was nearly complete but the committee would listen to suggestions to ensure the law was compatible with the constitution. [Ahram Online, 10/21/2014]

Endowments ministry inspectors granted right of civilian arrests
The ministry of endowments received approval from the justice ministry on Sunday to grant the first batch of endowments inspectors the right to arrest any civilian who violates religious speech law and regulations inside mosques. The decision aims to ensure the religious speeches at mosques do not contain political elements, by banning “outsiders and those who don’t qualify” for giving speeches, alongside those who use the platforms for personal or partisan interests, the endowment ministry said in a statement on its official website. [DNE, 10/20/2014]

Also of Interest
Sabbahi says will not allow Sisi’s failure | Egypt Independent, Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
Cabinet reshuffle to include three ministers | DPA
HEC urges Egyptians to make sure of voter database validity | SIS

COURTS

Military court sentences seven to death on charges related to terrorism
A military court sentenced seven Egyptian men to death and two to life in prison on charges of terrorism on Tuesday. The case is the first concerning prominent Egyptian militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. The defendants were arrested after a weapons’ warehouse was attacked in Qalubiyya on March 19, in an incident that left two military officers killed. They are accused of the murder of armed forces personnel, resisting authorities, and possession of rifles, said their lawyer. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, Ahram Gateway (Arabic), EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), 10/21/2014]

Court sets hearing for appeal on Marriott Cell case in January
Egypt’s Court of Cassation has scheduled for an appeals hearing session on January 1, 2015 to consider the case of seven Al Jazeera journalists, known as the “Marriott Cell” case. The session will challenge the rigorous seven-year imprisonments, Defense Lawyer Shaaban Said said on Tuesday. [Aswat Masriya, Shorouk (Arabic), EGYNews (Arabic), 10/21/2014]

Also of Interest
Court postpones case against protest law to December 16 | EGYNews (Arabic)
Trial of Mosri and fourteen others postponed to October 23 | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Case to criminalize slogan “Down with Military Rule” to resume November 25 | Shorouk (Arabic)
Thirty-six referred to court for forming terrorist group | DNE, Aswat Masriya, AMAY (Arabic)
Thirty-seven “Brotherhood members” to stand trial for breaking into Media Production City | Aswat Masriya

ECONOMY

Egyptian Exchange says to approve ten listings by end-year
The Egyptian Exchange expects to approve the listings of ten companies by the end of this year. This move comes as confidence in the local economy has grown and investors see stability returning after years of turmoil. The main Egyptian stock index and trading volumes have both recovered above the levels of 2010. [Ahram Online, 10/21/2014]

Also of Interest
Egypt will fix the economy but don’t expect miracles, says PM | Aswat Masriya, SIS
Egypt to be global logistics center for grain handling, says prime minister | DNE, Ahram (Arabic)
Deutsche Bank investments in Egypt worth $35 million, says investment minister | DNE
52.5 percent growth in railway passengers in August | DNE
Egypt signs oil and gas deal in Western Desert | Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Egypt signs thirty-six oil exploration deals since November 2013 | Egypt Independent

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Alexandria student dies after sustaining birdshot injuries
A student has died in hospital after being injured last week in clashes with police at Alexandria University. Omar Sherif is the first fatality in clashes that have rocked Egyptian universities since the beginning of term on October 11. He had been in a coma since being hit with birdshot in the head and neck, hospital officials told Ahram. Demonstrations continued in university campuses across Egypt Tuesday morning. Students from Al-Azhar University, Cairo University, Ain Shams University, and Minya University organized big rallies against the security crackdown. Security forces have stormed Al-Azhar University to break up a peaceful protest by female students. Teargas was used to disperse the protesters. Dozens of Students Against the Coup members staged a march at Cairo University. They vowed to show the “student movement is alive” and denounced government “repression and the arrest of students.” More students have been arrested or expelled from university. Falcon’s president, the private security firm tasked with protecting universities, reported that he has received death threats via cell phone. [Aswat Masriya, DNE, Shorouk (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), 10/21/2014]

Arab journalists urge Sisi to pardon imprisoned journalists
A delegation of Arab journalists urged President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to pardon imprisoned journalists in Egyptian prisons on Monday. Sisi met with the delegation of Arab journalists at the presidential palace, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said. Sisi said he understands “the best way to deal with violations committed by some [foreign] journalists is to deport them.” He nevertheless added that Egypt’s judiciary is “fully independent” and “commenting on court rulings is not possible,” Youssef said. Sentences against journalists have drawn international condemnation and raised alarm over the future of press freedoms in Egypt. The United States has called for the release of three Al Jazeera prisoners, with the White House in June calling for clemency for “all politically motivated sentences.” [Aswat Masriya, Ahram Online, Mada Masr, Ahram Gateway (Arabic), 10/21/2014]

Also of Interest
Mohamed Soltan’s family join hunger strike to demand his release | Ahram Online, Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
AFTE condemns interrogating journalists over leaking legal document | DNE
Media host: Plug pulled on show over government criticisms | Egypt Independent, Mada Masr

SECURITY

Electricity returns to Fayoum and Beni Suef after ‘terrorist’ blast
Power has been restored to most of areas Fayoum and Beni Suef after a transmission tower was damaged by an explosion on Monday night, an official has said. The blast in Demo town, Fayoum, was caused by a “terrorist attack,” Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker told Al-Ahram Arabic news website. He said electricity had been restored using other energy sources, including mobile power generators, adding that hospitals, water and sewage plants were prioritized to receive power. The government has not provide further details on the reported attack. [Ahram Online, 10/21/2014]

Also of Interest
Southern Military zone gets ready for Badr 2014 | SIS

INTERNATIONAL

PM says no plan for military action against Islamic State
Egypt has no plans to provide the United States with direct military assistance in its war against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria even though US aerial bombardment may not be enough to defeat the group, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said. He left open the possibility of military action if the al-Qaeda offshoot threatens Cairo’s Gulf Arab allies. Mahlab said Egypt’s priority is ensuring stability at home, where security officials face resilient jihadist insurgents based in the Sinai Peninsula and regard militants in neighboring Libya as a serious threat. “For the Egyptian army the most important thing is its borders and the stability of its country and the protection of its country,” said Mahlab. [Reuters, Ahram (Arabic), 10/20/2014]

Foreign ministry and Arab League study ways to support legitimate institutions in Libya
Spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs Badr Abdel-Aty said that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Nasser al-Qudwa, Envoy for the Secretary General of the Arab League, and discussed Libya’s political and security situation and ways to support the legitimate institutions and elected officials there. Shoukry also relayed guarantees from Libyan tribal elders with whom he met to guarantee stability in their respective areas. A foreign ministry statement stressed the necessity to implement sanctions against those militias that have attacked the legitimate government institutions in Libya and urged that those militias immediately surrender captured territory to restore the Libyan government and its capital to its rightful place. The Muslim Brotherhood in Libya, however, has rejected Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE’s role in supporting General Khalifa Haftar’s aerial campaign against the militias. [EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), 20/21/2014]

Also of Interest
Egypt-Israel gas deal won’t happen without state’s approval: Petroleum ministry | DNE
FM Shoukry and Representative Labrinidis discuss Egypt-EU cooperation | EGYNews (Arabic)
Court to hear case preventing Hamas from entering Egypt today | EGYNews (Arabic)
FM: Cooperation necessary in dealing with terrorism | SIS
FM meets EU human rights envoy | SIS, Aswat Masriya (Arabic)