Egypt’s public prosecutor said on Tuesday members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and Zamalek supporters, the Ultras White Knights, were charged with killing and inciting violence in connection with the deaths of twenty-two soccer fans who clashed with security forces last month. 

POLITICS

Sisi to issue governorate demarcation decree, cabinet approves final draft
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to issue a decree for a new demarcation line for Egypt’s governorate borders next week, according to Minister of Local Development Adel Labib. The minister said that the cabinet approved the final draft of the new demarcation law designating Egypt’s new governorates. Labib added that the Legislative Reform Committee and the Ministry of Transitional Justice both revised the new law, and it has been sent to the president. [DNE, 3/15/2015]

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  • Three scenarios expected for Egypt’s parliamentary elections | Ahram Online
  • Success of Egypt’s democracy assessed by Egyptians: Shoukry | DNE
  • Legislative Reform Committee to pass electronic signature draft law next meeting | Egypt Independent

COURTS

Egypt to try police officer for killing Shaimaa al-Sabbagh
Egypt’s prosecutor-general has referred a police officer to criminal court over the killing of leftist activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh at a peaceful protest in January. “The public prosecution’s investigation uncovered that the death of (Sabbagh) occurred after she was hit with birdshot which one of the police officers of Central Security Forces fired in the direction of her and other protesters to break up a demonstration in TalaatHarb square,” the prosecutor’s statement said. The Central Security Forces officer, who remained unidentified, is accused of an action that “led to the death of” Sabbagh – a lesser charge than murder. Lawyers said that depending on which article of the penal code is applied to him, the sentence could range from three to ten years. The prosecution also referred members of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, who organized the protest, to criminal court for violating the 2013 protest law which outlaws unauthorized demonstrations. [Ahram Online, Reuters, AP, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, 3/17/2015]

Badie, thirteen Muslim Brotherhood figures sentenced to death in ‘Raba’a Control Room’ case  
A Cairo criminal court sentenced Mohamed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide, and thirteen other leading members of the group to death on Monday for inciting murder in the case known in the media as the “Raba’a control room” trial. Those sentenced to death include Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson Mahmoud Ghozlan, former Kafr al-Sheikh governor Saad al-Hossainy and preacher Salah Sultan. The judge presiding over the trial, Mohamed NagiShehata, who also presided over the Al Jazeera and Kerdasa trials, said there is plenty of evidence to prove that the convicted have supplied the Brotherhood with “funds and weapons.” The court formally referred the case to the Grand Mufti, the country’s highest Islamic legal official, which is the first step towards imposing a death sentence. The court has also set April 11 as the date to announce its verdict concerning other defendants in the case, among them hunger-striking Mohamed Soltan. There are also twelve journalists and media workers incriminated in the case, according to Abdullah al-Fakharany, one of the detained journalists in the case, including journalists, who worked with Youm7 and Al-Karama, and with satellite channels such as Ahrar 25, Misr 25 and Al-Aqsa channel. [Ahram Online, DNE, Reuters, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, 3/16/2015]

Egypt charges Muslim Brotherhood, Ultras over soccer violence deaths 
Egypt’s public prosecutor said on Tuesday members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and Zamalek supporters, the Ultras White Knights, were charged with killing and inciting violence in connection with the deaths of twenty-two soccer fans who clashed with security forces last month. The defendants are charged with acts of thuggery related to intentional murder, destruction of buildings and public properties, resisting authorities, and possession of explosive materials. The prosecution has referred twelve Brotherhood members, and four Ultras White Knights members to a criminal court, ordering the arrest of four defendants who are still at large. In a statement on state television, the prosecutor general said investigations placed the blame on the Muslim Brotherhood, claiming the group plotted the violence, aiming to destabilize the country. [Ahram Online, Reuters, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, 3/17/2015]

Prosecution says Morsi-era alleged torture victim Mohamed al-Gendy died in car accident
Egypt’s Prosecutor General said on Tuesday that the death of political activist Mohamed al-Gendy, who was killed in mysterious circumstances in February 2013, was due to injuries caused by a hit-and-run car accident.The prosecution has designated the case as a “manslaughter misdemeanor,” temporarily shelving it as a culprit could not be identified.It ordered police to carry out a probe to track down the perpetrators, a statement by Egypt’s Prosecutor General’s office said on Tuesday. In the statement, the prosecution denied reports that Gendy was tortured to death by police. At the time of his death, human rights campaigners and security sources said that 28-year-old Gendy had been killed as a result of police brutality during interrogation at a Central Security Forces camp after being rounded up with other young protesters after protests in Tahrir Square on January 27 2013. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, 3/17/2015]

Also of Interest

  • Labor activists show solidarity with comrades in asset freeze case | Egypt Independent
  • Supreme Court rules against bank’s attempt to punitively relocate trade unionist | Mada Masr
  • Belly dancer Safinaz trial adjourned to April 6 | Egypt Independent
  • Court rejects lawsuit banning NDP and Brotherhood figures from running for elections | EGYNews(Arabic)
  • Case calling for cutting ties with Turkey adjourned to April 14 | EGYNews (Arabic)

ECONOMY

Egypt, Arabtec near agreement on $40 billion housing project
Egypt’s housing ministry and Dubai’s Arabtec have agreed some of the terms for a $40 billion project to build one million homes across the country, and they will sign a final contract within ten days, a ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Earlier this month, the housing minister said he hoped to conclude a deal for the mega development—seen as part of economic and political support to the country by the United Arab Emirates—before the March investment conference but no announcement was made. Under a preliminary plan announced last year, construction of the housing had originally been due to start in the third quarter of 2014, with the first homes to be delivered in early 2017 and the project to be completed before 2020. [Reuters, 3/17/2015]

Also of Interest

  • 6.3 million tax assessment letters dispatched to residences | Egypt Independent
  • Egypt’s Carbon Holdings to begin new project worth $4 billion this year says state agency | Aswat Masriya
  • Suez Canal Authority to borrow US$450 million in short-term loan | Mada Masr
  • Egypt’s stocks dip after rising ahead of economic conference | Ahram Online
  • Ministry signs US$9.6 billion deal for coal-fired electricity plan | Egypt Independent
  • Egypt seals deal with Gazprom to import 35 cargoes of LNG | Ahram Online
  • Tourism minister says international public tender for new promotional campaign for Egypt abroad | Aswat Masriya

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Interior ministry denies raid on Popular Socialist Alliance Party
Egypt’s interior ministry has denied it raided the Socialist Popular Alliance Party (SPAP) office in Alexandria or arrested any of its members early on Friday morning, stressing it does not interfere in politics. The ministry said that while police were inspecting the “security situation” in the area, a local doorman told them that “a group of people frequent [the building in question] at various times.” Police headed to the building and questioned its owner who said one of the apartments had recently been rented out to the SPAP and their members come regularly but that the “[Police] left the site without taking anyone or [committing violations].” The SPAP had filed a legal complaint against the interior minister and top police officials in Alexandria over the incident, and added that police arrested two party members. [Mada Masr, Ahram Online, 3/17/2015]

Also of Interest

  • Rights group calls for end of refugees’ ‘arbitrary detention’ | DNE
  • Suspension of judges ‘violation’ to judicial independence: Rights group | DNE
  • Egypt marks third anniversary of Pope Shenouda’s death | Ahram Online
  • Fayoum University students strike continue for seventh day | DNE
  • Torture, abuse, death daily occurrences in Egypt’s detention centres | DNE
  • Suspect hangs himself in Kafr al-Sheikh Police Station | Egypt Independent
  • Actor: New administrative capital for rich only | Egypt Independent
  • Egyptian atheists still under fire | Egypt Independent
  • BuSSy Monologues’ new show halted by Cairo Opera House | Mada Masr
  • Sawiris admits politics played role in Euronews takeover | Egypt Independent
  • Bassem Youssef to WSJ: Satire and jokes do not bring political change | Egypt Independent
  • German University in Cairo students suspend strike protesting student death | Ahram Online

SECURITY

Brotherhood supporters’ properties torched in Daqahlia over policeman’s death
People in the Daqahlia village of al-Nozha set fire to houses owned by supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, who security authorities say were involved in the murder of a policeman and his uncle. Investigations have pointed to five unknown attackers who were involved in a drive-by shooting that killed the pair. Witnesses said the residents had fled their homes and farmlands before angry villagers torched them. The incident prompted security forces to intensify their presence in the area and impose a curfew. [Egypt Independent, 3/17/2015]

Also of Interest

  • Security forces destroy terrorist havens in North Sinai | EGYNews (Arabic)

INTERNATIONAL

Sisi, Saudi Prince end summit satisfied, expectant of bilateral relations
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz discussed deepening bilateral relations after Sharm al-Sheikh’s Economic Summit. The Saudi Kingdom contributions reached $4 billion, nearly half of which are destined to shore up Egypt’s cash reserves. Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz said he hoped the kingdom’s support would enhance intra-regional trade and investment in Egypt and back the government’s efforts to stabilize the monetary market. The crown prince, also the former head of the Saudi General Intelligence Services, told Sisi that King Salman bin Abdulaziz is keen on following in the footsteps of his older brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz concerning working together with Egypt towards economic development. [DNE, 3/16/2015]

Iraq summons Egyptian ambassador over al-Azhar’s Shia militia remarks
Iraq’s foreign ministry summoned on Tuesday the Egyptian ambassador to Iraq, Ahmed Darwish, in protest against the recent unfavorable remarks by al-Azhar against Shia militias, supporting the government in its fight against the Islamic State, Anadolu Agency reported. The Iraqi ministry handed Darwish a protest memo, decrying last week’s statement made by the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayyeb, in which he slammed the pro-government Shia militias, Popular Mobilization, for committing “massacres against the Sunni people in Iraq”. The Iraqi ministry said the statement by al-Tayyeb “damages the brotherly, special relations between the two countries”. It lauded the militia as “heroes” who “rose up to the call for liberating the homeland”. Al-Tayyeb had labelled the Popular Mobilization as “an extremist Shia militia”, urging action to cease “massacres” committed against Sunnis in Iraq. [Anadolu Agency, 3/17/2015]

Also of Interest

  • Egypt’s Sisi invites Yemeni President to attend Arab Summit | Ahram Online
  • Egypt’s foreign minister prepares for Arab Summit in Sharm al-Sheikh | Aswat Masriya
  • UK to announce results of Muslim Brotherhood Review ‘as soon as possible’ | Ahram Online
  • Over 33,000 Egyptians returned from Libya in thirty days via Salloum crossing | DNE
  • Salloum crossing receives body of Egyptian killed in Libya | Egypt Independent
  • Al-Azhar Imam invited to Mali’s peace and development conference | EGYNews (Arabic)