Popular Current rejects putting disability council under supervision of social solidarity ministry
The Popular Current came out against Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab’s Monday decision which put the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) under the supervision of the ministry of social solidarity. A Monday statement from the group said that it disagreed with Mahlab’s decision as it marginalizes the role of the council, and puts it in the ranks of national NGOS and associations, which are supervised by the ministry of solidarity. [DNE, 9/24/2014]

Also of Interest:
Egypt’s warnings on terrorism in region proved accurate: Spokesperson | Ahram Online
Nour Party accuses media of distorting its image | Egypt Independent
PM chairs legislation reform panel meeting | SIS

COURTS

Egyptian policeman charged with sexually assaulting female detainee
Egypt’s prosecutor-general on Wednesday referred a policeman to trial on charges of sexually assaulting a female detainee. The prosecution listened to the testimonies of other women detained with the victim, who confirmed the charges. They testified that the victim, who suffers from a psychological disorder, was escorted by the accused policeman to a place out of reach of surveillance cameras at a police station in Imbaba, where she was sexually assaulted. According to the forensics report, the victim is a 16-year-old minor who suffers from a mental illness. The policeman is 40-years-old. [Ahram Online, DNE, Aswat Masriya, 9/24/2014]

Court to decide Mubarak’s fate on Saturday
Cairo Criminal Court will decide on Saturday the destiny of long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak, his sons Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, his former interior minister Habib al-Adly, six of his close aides, and fugitive businessman Hussein Salem. Mubarak, Adly, and his six aides are accused of being behind killing and injuring peaceful protesters who took to the streets during the January 25 Revolution in 2011. Mubarak first stood trial in August 2011. He and Adly received twenty-five year prison sentences in June 2012. Adly’s six aides and Mubarak’s sons were acquitted. In February 2013, the Cairo Cassation Court overturned the verdict, granting Mubarak and all his co-defendants a retrial. [DNE, 9/24/2014]

Also of Interest:
Prosecution reviews materials on foreign ministry cameras in search for Bulaq blast perpetrators | Egypt Independent
Activist Douma’s life at risk pending recusal, says lawyer | Mada Masr

ECONOMY

Egypt’s Informal sector volume records around EGP 1.5 trillion
The volume of the informal sector registered between EGP 1.2 trillion and EGP 1.5 trillion, which is 65-70 percent the size of the formal economy, said head of the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies (ECES) Abdel Moneim al-Sayed in a recent report. al-Sayed explained that Egypt’s informal sector consists of 18 million establishments, 40,000 of them are factories. According to the study, the informal sector has lost the government EGP 300 billion in potential taxes. [DNE, 9/23/2014]

Also of Interest:
Tourists to Egypt rise 15.8 percent in July as travel bans lifted | Ahram Online
Egypt to receive $1.5 billion in housing, sanitation project funding from World Bank | Ahram Online
Egyptian pound steady on official market, stronger on black market | Reuters

SOCIETY & MEDIA

EIPR launches campaign in solidarity with hunger striking detainees
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) launched a campaign on Tuesday titled “Starving for Justice” in support of the rights of hunger striking detainees in Egyptian prisons. Amid continued denial of fair trials and the absence of humane conditions in Egyptian prisons, tens of political prisoners are staging hunger strikes in order to deliver their message, the organization said. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the responsibilities of the state towards the detainees. Meanwhile, Alexandrian lawyer and activist Mahienour al-Massry started a hunger strike on Tuesday in solidarity with all those detained over the controversial 2013 Protest Law, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information. [DNE, 9/24/2014]

Foreign funding law raises concern over future of human rights organizations
Egyptian rights groups and journalists paid by foreign news outlets fear they are the target of a presidential decree banning the receipt of foreign money for activity deemed harmful to national interests. Amendments to Article 78 of the Egyptian Penal Code have raised concerns over a possible government crackdown on human rights organizations, said Ahmed Ezzat, human rights lawyer at the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE). Ezzat said that the recent amendments are alarming and can be considered as a clear message to all NGOs concerned with human rights not to practice freely. [Guardian, DNE, 9/24/2014]

SECURITY

Leaked video indicates torture in Gharbeya police station
A video was leaked on Tuesday allegedly showing the torture of four detainees inside Basion police station in Gharbiya governorate, north of Cairo. The video, which stirred outrage among social media users, appears to have been shot by one of the policemen present during the incident. While the original source of the video couldn’t be independently verified, text overlaid on the footage reveals some names of the officers involved. Head of the Human Rights Administration at Gharbiya Security Directorate denied any use of torture or cruelty against detainees at Basion police station. [Mada Masr, 9/23/2014]

Also of Interest:
Fayoum military craft crashes due to technical problem: Armed Forces | Mada Masr, EGYNews (Arabic)
Army kills four Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis members – source | Aswat Masriya
Blast in Egypt’s Fayoum injures child | Ahram Online

INTERNATIONAL

Egypt’s Sisi calls on US to send over-due Apaches
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has said he supports the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham(ISIS), and called on the United States to send Egypt the military hardware it promised, during an interview on CBS with Charlie Rose. Sisi was reluctant to reveal details of Egypt’s potential militant participation against ISIS. In the interview, he also said he does not reject opposing opinions, and called on supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood not to let their support turn into violence and terrorism. During the interview, he accused them of planting bombs on streets, trains and electricity generation stations. Sisi also denied any restrictions or limits on freedom of expression in Egypt, describing the issue as irreversible. Speaking about the Al Jazeera imprisoned journalists, he said he wished the problem did not exist, adding that he preferred if they were deported before being brought to trial. He added, however, that he cannot intervene at this point. Sisi is expected to address the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, at 11:00am EDT (6:00pm CLT). [Ahram Online, 9/24/2014]

Obama calls for Ahmed Maher’s release
US President Barack Obama called on Tuesday for the release of Egyptian activist Ahmed Maher, who is currently serving a three-year sentence for violating the controversial protest law. During a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative, Obama included Maher in a list of “those who have given their lives” for being among those who “dare raise their voices.” The US president added: “They deserve to be free.  They ought to be released.” [DNE, 9/24/2014]

Also of Interest:
Minister: Sisi offered American companies two giant projects in Egypt | Egypt Independent
Sisi to visit Ethiopia: Egypt official | Ahram Online
Hamas, Fatah begin talks in Cairo to resolve disputes | Ahram Online, Reuters
Egypt welcomes new Libyan government | Ahram Online, DNE
UK keen on expanding partnerships to help Egypt | DNE
Egyptian-mediated Gaza talks to resume in late October | Reuters, DNE
Merkel invites Sisi to visit Germany | Egypt Independent