Leading anti-Mubarak activitist Alaa Abdel-Fattah was sentenced in absentia to to fifteen years in jail on Wednesday by an Egyptian court for violating a protest law.
POLITICS
Tamarod announces new campaign with demands for Sisi
Tamarod’s “Correcting the Pathway” campaign announced the end of their designated role at a press conference held on Tuesday at their headquarters in Cairo and announced a new project to put seven demands to the president during his first 100 days in office. Moheb Doss, member of the campaign’s central committee and one of its co-founders said another press conference will be held to discuss the details of the demands, adding that they will not protest against Sisi if he accomplishes them. Islam Hamam, a member of the campaign’s central committee, said that the campaign rejected seven members, including Mahmoud Badr and Hassan Shahin, due to “their attempts to transform the campaign into a movement without obtaining permission from members of the central committee, as well as announcing that they were running for the parliamentary elections and supporting presidential candidates.” [Mada Masr, 6/10/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Ministry of Interior launches campaign to enhance ‘state dignity’ | SIS
COURTS
Court renews Abdallah al-Shamy’s detention; Mohamed Sultan admitted to intensive care
An Egyptian court has renewed the detention of Abdullah al-Shamy and others for forty-five days over violence that followed the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi last August. The Al Jazeera journalist has been on hunger strike since January 21. Meanwhile, Mohamed Sultan, the Egyptian-American who has been on a hunger strike for over 130 days to protest his continual detainment, was transferred to a hospital for medical care, the interior ministry said on Tuesday. Prior to his transfer, seven local NGOs released a statement in support of Sultan, requesting that prison authorities admit him to the hospital for potentially life-saving treatment. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, 6/11/2014]
Alaa Abdel-Fattah, 24 others sentenced to fifteen years prison
Leading anti-Mubarak activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah was sentenced in absentia to fifteen years in jail on Wednesday by an Egyptian court for violating a protest law. Twenty-four other co-defendants received similar sentences for charges related to a protest last November. The court also fined the defendants EGP100,000 ($14,000) each and ordered them placed under five-year police surveillance after their release upon completion of the jail term. Mona Seif, Abdel-Fattah’s sister and founder of the No to Military Trials group, said via Twitter that her brother, along with two other co-defendants, were waiting at the courthouse for permission to attend the session, but were denied entry. Once the sentence was pronounced, they were arrested at the courthouse for transfer to prison. [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, Reuters, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, 6/11/2014]
Thirteen Syrians sentenced to five years prison for breaking protest law
Cairo’s criminal court on Tuesday sentenced thirteen Syrians residing in Egypt to five years in prison on charges of illegal assembly during a protest in 2012. The defendants denied the accusations, asserting that they were peacefully protesting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad when they were arrested. In a press release on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch said, “Egyptian authorities have violated the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from Syria.” [Ahram Online, Egyptian Independent, Mada Masr, 6/10/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Three defendants acquitted on charges of breaking protest law | DNE
- Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood ‘Presidential Palace’ trial delayed | DNE
- Authorities arrest Brotherhood member Hossam Mirghany facing death sentence | Ahram (Arabic)
ECONOMY
Egypt current account deficit narrows to $232.7 million in July-March
Egypt’s current account deficit narrowed to $232.7 million in the nine months ending in March from a deficit of $5.7 billion in the same period a year earlier. In the period from January to March, the third quarter of Egypt’s fiscal year, the current account recorded a surplus of $523.1 million dollars. [Reuters, 6/11/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Gap between Egypt pound official, unofficial rate widens | Reuters
- Egypt to remain in MCSI emerging markets index | Ahram Online
- Egyptian non-petroleum exports rise for first time in 2014 | DNE
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Sisi visits Tahrir sexual assault victim, calls for formation of committee to address harassment
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday visited one of the Tahrir Square victims of mass sexual assault at al-Helmiya Military Hospital, along with Minister of Defense Sedki Sobhi and chief of staff General Mahmoud Hegazy. During the visit, al-Sisi vowed that “as a state, we will not allow for this to happen again,” adding that “firm” measures will be put in place to prevent future assaults. Sisi also apologized to “every Egyptian woman,” as he appeared on state television visiting the victim. Sisi also called for the formation of a ministerial committee to address harassment, expressing the need to develop a national strategy to deal with sexual assaults. Meanwhile, Forensics Authority spokesperson Hisham Abu Hamid said that seven women were subject to “indecent assault” rather than rape during celebrations of Sisi’s inauguration in Tahrir Square on Sunday. In related news, private satellite channel Tahrir’s anchor Maha Bahnassy has been temporarily suspended for her comments on sexual assault in Tahrir Square, when she justified the assaults by saying that the people “are happy and celebrating.” Meanwhile, a Facebook event entitled “Walk Like an Egyptian Woman” has been planned for Saturday to protest the assaults in Tahrir Square. [Ahram Online, DNE, AP, Aswat Masriya, EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), Ahram (Arabic), 6/11/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Egyptian police officers to be granted life insurance Ahram Online
- Mahienour al-Massry refuses ‘any kind of amnesty’ from the government | DNE
- Mufti calls for reform campaigns and national project to address harassment | EGYNews (Arabic)
SECURITY
Gunman injured while placing bomb in Arish
A security source in North Sinai said a gunman was injured in a bomb blast on Tuesday while planting it on the airport road, south of Arish City. The source told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Tuesday that he was transferred to Arish Military Hospital for treatment. [Egypt Independent, 6/11/2014]
INTERNATIONAL
Obama congratulates Sisi in phonecall; State Department officials in Cairo for meetings
President Barack Obama called new Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday to congratulate him on his inauguration and “to convey his commitment to working together to advance the shared interests of both countries,” the White House said in a statement. The phone call comes as the State Department’s Ambassador David Thorne and Counselor Tom Shannon prepare to meet with Egyptian officials in Cairo. Commenting on their visit, State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf said, “This continuing engagement is indicative of the importance we place on US-Egypt relations,” adding that Thorne and Shannon would underline steps the Egyptian Government “must take in order to proceed on a path to a political transition.” Meanwhile, US envoy to Libya, Ambassador David Satterfield has met with Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi and Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy. [Ahram Online, Reuters, AP, 6/11/2014]
Turkish president congratulates Sisi on presidency
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has congratulated Egypt’s newly sworn-in President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on the post, state news agency MENA reported. The Egyptian embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara received a message of congratulations from Gul to al-Sisi in which he wished Egypt peace, stability and prosperity. Gul said the centuries-long and historical relations between the two countries will continue at all times. [Ahram Online, 6/11/2014]
Also of Interest:
- Ambassador: meeting expected between al-Sisi and Ethiopia PM | Egypt Independent, Ahram Online, SIS
- Sisi sends Qatar’s Emir a ‘thank you’ message | Ahram Online, SIS
- Egyptian Ambassador to Palestine: it is unjust to focus’ on Rafah | DNE
- Egyptian kidnapped in Lebanon released | Egypt Independent
- Egypt foreign minister leaves for Athens | SIS
- Iran wants full restoration of diplomatic ties with Egypt: Diplomat | Ahram Online
- French, Egyptian navies conclude ‘Cleopatra’ joint exercises | DNE
- Number two in Hamas says he’ll move from Egypt to Gaza | AP
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs monitors situation in Mosul | AMAY (Arabic)