Egypt’s High Administrative Court ordered on Saturday the dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political wing of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, and the liquification of its assets.

POLITICS

Egypt drafting law to protect facilities, criminalizes attacks on utilities
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said that the government will draft a new law to “protect facilities” which criminalizes and toughens punishments for attacking facilities. The law will reduce repeated attacks on water and power stations and networks in the framework of government attempts to secure citizens’ access to basic necessities. “The Prime Minister’s legal advisory body has already begun studying the facilities protection law in coordination with the relevant ministries and the State Council,” said cabinet spokesman Hossam al-Kawish.  In a statement made late Saturday following a meeting with the ministers of housing and agriculture, Mahlab instructed the minister of irrigation to inventory the capacity of all groundwater wells across Egypt. [DNE, 8/10/2014]

Also of Interest:

• ‘Hard work and dedication’ more important than donating to fund: South Sinai Governor | DNE
• Mahlab: ‘Long Live Egypt Fund’ to establish branches abroad, including US | DNE
• Presidency employees donate 10 percent of salaries to ‘Long Live Egypt’ fund | Egypt Independent

 

COURTS

Egyptian court dissolves Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party
Egypt’s High Administrative Court ordered on Saturday the dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political wing of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, and the liquification of its assets. A court banned the Muslim Brotherhood itself in September, but that ruling did not mention its political wing, leaving open the possibility it could be allowed to run in parliamentary elections, due late this year. However, Saturday’s ruling effectively bans the Brotherhood from formal participation in electoral politics. The pro-Morsi National Alliance to Support Legitimacy condemned the ban on Sunday, describing it as an unlawful and void decision. The alliance said in a statement that the ban demonstrates the extent to which the Egyptian judiciary is biased and politicized. The statement added that “there is an obvious exclusionary plot to dominate and monopolize the political scene, and to further control public opinion,” and that the FJP was practically dissolved “weeks ahead of the July 2013 coup, in a series of planned attacks on the party’s headquarters in a number of cities.” [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent,Mada Masr, The Guardian, 8/9/2014]

Former interior minister testifies in court over January 25 protester killings
The Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday heard testimony from former interior minister Habib al-Adly  defending himself in a trial over his involvement in the killing of protesters during the January 25 Revolution. Former president Hosni Mubarak, on trial in the same case, missed the trial due to health issues. In his testimony, Adly said that the United States was behind the 2011 revolution against Mubarak as part of its “new Middle East plan.” Adly also denied ordering the killing of protesters, saying “I never gave orders to kill. I gave strict rules to stick to water and gas only to disperse the sit-in.” Adly described himself, as well as those prosecuted alongside him, as “national figures who have performed their duty to the fullest. Meanwhile, Adly Mostafa Fayed, assistant to Adly, testified that Adly didn’t give him orders to open fire on protesters, state-owned Al-Ahram reported. The Cairo Criminal Court resumed on Monday the retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak, his sons Alaa and Gamal, Adly, six former security deputies, and fugitive businessman Hussein Salem on charges of killing protesters during the 2011 revolution and of financial corruption. [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, 8/9/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Egypt acquits 45 for US embassy protests in August 2013 | Ahram Online
• Thirty-one referred to court over killing Shiite leader last year | Aswat Masriya
• Public prosecution in need of reform for effective justice system: EIPR | DNE

ECONOMY

IMF praises economic reform measures in Egypt
Masood Ahmed, director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, said “Egypt has applied hard and brave economic reforms” in recent weeks. Ahmed said is press remarks on Saturday, that “if the fund’s program is applied in Egypt, it will give signals to international institutions that the situation is stable to carry out other programs.” [MENA, 8/10/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Egyptians report regular power blackouts | Ahram Online
• Egypt’s consumer inflation jumps to 10.6 percent in July | Reuters
• CBE repays $710 million to Paris Club lenders | Al-Mal
• Op-ed: Egyptians working abroad: the country’s ‘hidden’ treasure? | Al Bawaba
• Egypt’s urban inflation hits highest monthly increase in six years in July | Ahram Online
• Digging of new canal in Suez started August 6: Egypt’s army | Ahram Online
• New canal project assigned to 33 companies | Egypt Independent
• DP World: Suez Canal project benefits global trade | Egypt Independent
• Army starts implementing new Suez Canal project – Spokesman | SIS
• Government falls behind on repayment schedule for foreign oil companies | DNE
• Government to import gas at $17 per million BTUs due to poor domestic gas production | DNE
• Egypt concludes foreign fundraising for Assiut power station with $55m OPEC loan | DNE
• Inflation sees biggest monthly surge since 2008 | DNE
• Industry, food and metal production rose during 2012: CAPMAS | DNE
• Egypt has potential to grow, but sustainability depends on government: World Bank | DNE
• Exports register $1.4bn in July, $13.34bn since beginning of 2014: Industry Ministry | DNE
• Egypt to build EGP80 billion Airport City | Egypt Independent
• Citrus to be exported to US | SIS
• Tourism minister announces new transport project between Cairo, new cities | SIS

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Human Rights Watch says Egypt gagging dissent as chiefs denied entry
Human Rights Watch accused Egypt’s government of trying to silence all criticism, after two of its top staff were held at Cairo airport for 12 hours and then denied entry to the country for “security reasons,” the group said on Monday. Executive Director Kenneth Roth and Middle East and North Africa Director Sarah Leah Whitson had flown to Cairo to launch a report on the mass killings of protesters by security forces one year ago in the pro-Morsi Raba’a al-Adaweya sit-in. HRW added that it would electronically release its report on Tuesday as scheduled. Roth said HRW had already sent the report to senior Egyptian officials and was hoping to have meetings with them to discuss it. “However, it appears the Egyptian government has no appetite to face up to the reality of these abuses, let alone hold those responsible to account,” he added. [Reuters, AP, Mada Masr, DNE, The Guardian, 8/11/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Trucks banned from Cairo’s main streets during daytime hours | Ahram Online
• One dead in minor pro-Brotherhood protest on Friday | Ahram Online
• Security official praises Brotherhood sit-in dispersal | Mada Masr
• Rations manipulated, those involved must be punished: Mahlab | DNE
• NGO condemns assault on journalist by Al-Ahram security | DNE
• Egypt burns books it says promote violence, Brotherhood ideas | Reuters
• A year later, protest’s bloody end divides Egypt | AP
• Sisi asks media to focus on dangers to national security | Mada Masr
• Democratic Current to hold ‘Palestine Day’ | Ahram Online

SECURITY

Sisi: Army did not participate in operations beyond Egypt’s borders
The Egyptian army has not participated in any strikes or operations beyond Egypt’s borders, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi told a group of Egyptian journalists and TV show hosts on Saturday. Denying all reports in the foreign media claiming that there were Egyptian armed forces units in Saudi Arabia or Libya, Sisi said the responsibility of the Egyptian armed forces was to defend Egypt’s national security. “Our calculations are always connected to our national security,” he said during the meeting held at the presidential palace. In the meeting, Sisi tackled several points, including relations with Ethiopia, the upcoming parliamentary elections, as well as the electricity crisis in the country.[Ahram Online, 8/10/2014]

Sixty militants killed, 102 arrested in recent Sinai operations: Egyptian army
The Egyptian armed forces announced on Saturday that it has killed 60 militants in Sinai over the past twelve days and arrested 102 others suspected of involvement in recent attacks. The statement added that a total of 123 bases, 247 hideouts, and six farms that were used to target army and police forces were destroyed. Rifles, ammunition, and parts of equipment were also discovered in 17 tunnel openings in Rafah. Meanwhile, the armed forces spokesman announced on Friday that the Egyptian military has demolished an additional 20 tunnels between Sinai and Gaza, putting the total at 1,659 tunnels destroyed. The armed forces also announced that it had arrested 59 Egyptians attempting to illegally cross the Libyan border and found vehicles carrying drugs and contraband. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya, 8/9/2014]

Also of Interest:

• Texas energy firm worker killed in Egypt | AP

INTERNATIONAL

Israel, Palestinians resume Egypt-brokered ceasefire talks
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators resumed indirect talks mediated by Egypt on Monday on ending a month-old Gaza war, Egypt’s state news agency said, after a new 72-hour truce appeared to be holding. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry urged “both sides to exploit this truce to resume indirect negotiations immediately and work towards a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire agreement.” Azzam al-Ahmed, the head of the Palestinian delegation, announced Sunday night that Palestinian factions will use the 72-hour truce period to reach a permanent cease-fire agreement, EGYNews reported. One of Hamas’s negotiators in Cairo said negotiations would resume at 10am on Monday, while Israeli officials said a delegation would travel to Cairo, where the indirect talks have been held, if the ceasefire held. On Sunday, Palestinian negotiators had said they would remain in Cairo for an urgent meeting with the Arab League on Monday to discuss the Gaza crisis, while Israeli negotiators arrived in Cairo on Monday to meet with Egyptian mediators sources at the airport and foreign ministry said. [Reuters, Mada Masr, The Guardian, DNE, AP, Egypt Independent, 8/11/2014]

Egypt, Saudis seek united front against militant Islam
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah met on Sunday to talk over joint efforts to counter Islamist militancy across the Middle East, including the turmoil now shaking Iraq. The meeting, which took place in Jeddah, focused on “what is happening in Libya, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon,” according to a report in Al-Ahram. Sisi’s spokesman, Ihab Badawi, said the two leaders agreed to work together promote the “true and moderate values of Islam that reject extremism and terrorism”. “President Sisi and King Abdullah also reviewed the development of the situation in Iraq in light of the expanding of the circle of terrorism in the region,” Badawi said, according to Egypt’s Middle East news agency. State media from both countries also said the talks included Egyptian efforts to broker a ceasefire in a month-long fighting between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Sisi returned to Cairo on Monday, and will fly to Russia on Tuesday for a two-day visit where he plans to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. [Reuters, Ahram Online, SIS, DNE, 8/11/2014]

Also of Interest:

• FM Shoukry meets US special envoy for Libya | Ahram Online, DNE, SIS
• Egypt concludes emergency airlift from Tunisia | Ahram Online, DNE, Aswat Masriya
• EgyptAir cancels flight to Iraq amid deteriorating security | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent
• ISIS advance threatens whole region: Egypt foreign ministry | DNE
• Ethiopia done with 35.8 percent of construction at controversial dam | Egypt Independent
• Egypt to host meeting of neighboring countries to support Libya | SIS
• Shoukry contacts Abbas, Norway FM over phone | SIS
• Sisi reviews regional situation with Bahraini king | SIS
• Egypt, Nigeria seek enhancing cooperation in education sector | SIS
• Foreign ministry denies Rafah border closure | Ahram Online, DNE
• Egypt’s hospitals admitted 216 wounded from Gaza | Egypt Independent
• Over 7,500 crossed from and to Rafah in past month: Foreign ministry | Aswat Masriya