TOP STORIES
Legal & Political Institutions
The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters Court of Appeals overturned an earlier decision to ban National Democratic Party members from running in the upcoming parliamentary and local elections. The court overturned the earlier decision due to lack of evidence incriminating NDP leaders in connection with corruption. [Egyptian Streets, Daily News Egypt] Read More…
Gender & Sexuality
An Egyptian court ordered one year suspended sentences for two people on charges of sexual harassment of two girls in June. The two also received one year of hard labor for assaulting the police officer that intervened in the attack. [Aswat Masriya, Daily News Egypt] Read More…
Rights & Freedoms
Human Rights Watch issued a statement raising concerns over the new draft law that aims to regulate NGOs in Egypt, giving the government and security agencies “veto power over all activities of associations in Egypt and would sound the death knell for the independence these groups have fought to maintain.” The draft law would make all activities of associations subject to government regulation, and would give the government and security agencies the power to dissolve existing groups, reject new groups, inspect premises of any group suspected of engaging in the work of NGOs, and heavily restriction foreign funding of Egyptian NGOs. “This law is not about regulating nongovernmental organizations – it’s about throttling them and robbing them of their independence,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director. “These provisions would extinguish a crucial element of democracy in Egypt.” [HRW] Read More…
Security Sector
Seven civilians and one soldier were killed, and 28 others injured in two separate attacks that took place in North Sinai. The first attack, which killed 7 and injured 25 was a mortar attack at a market in North Sinai’s capital, Al-Arish. The second mortar attack targeted a military post, killing one soldier and injuring 3 others. “The Armed Forces said in the statement that such attacks will not deter the military from its fight against terrorism, and will only strengthen its resolve.” [Ahram, Mada Masr] Read More…
Foreign Relations
Egypt’s Foreign Minister will meet with his Palestinian counterpart to discuss the situation in Gaza. Foreign Minister Shoukry will then head Egypt’s delegation in an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo this evening to discuss bringing an end to the violence in Gaza that has resulted in over 150 deaths of Palestinians in Israeli airstrikes, over a third of which have been children. The urgent meeting was called by Kuwait, head of the Arab league, and follows Shoukry’s talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry, and President Sisi’s talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. [Ahram] Read More…
MORE STORIES
Legal & Political Institutions
Gamaa Islamiya head arrested while fleeing Egypt
Ahram:Wanted Gamaa Islamiya leader detained at southern border
In this article: Safwat Abdel-Ghani, former Shura Council member and head of Gamaa Islamiya’s Building and Development, was among five arrested while attempting to flee Egypt. The pro-Muslim Brotherhood National Alliance to Support Legitimacy also stated that security officials arrested Nasr Abdel-Salam, who is the acting head of the Building and Development Party.
Egyptian military’s head of Hepatitis C ‘miracle cure’ replaced
Marsad:Head of military engineering authority is replaced
Mada Masr: Head of military engineering authority is replaced
In this article: The head of the military engineering authority was replaced, and moved to the position of assistant to the defense minister, a move that Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm is attributing to the delays in the military’s “cure” of Hepatitis C and HIV. “Al-Masry Al-Youm stated that the authority’s inability to start the promised cure campaign has put the Armed Forces in an embarrassing situation. The military’s medical care authority is now reportedly supervising the project instead of the engineering authority.”
162 charged with kidnapping, murder, assault in connection with April Aswan tribal clashes
Ahram:162 charged over Aswan tribal clashes
In this article: 162 have been charged with killing, assault, kidnapping, and torching houses in connection with the deadly tribal clashes that took place in Aswan in April 2014. “According to a statement by the prosecutor-general’s office on Monday, the prosecution investigated the killing of 25 persons, listened to statements by 44 injured people and 74 eyewitnesses, checked 65 torched houses, eight torched shops, three torched cars and six motorcycles.”
Rights & Freedoms
Solidarity Protest calling for release of photojournalist Shawkan
Freedom for Shawkan: Solidarity protest for detained photojournalist Shawkan
Aswat Masriya: Strike at Journalist Syndicate for detained journalist Shawkan
In this article: Aswat Masriya published a photo essay documenting the solidarity protest on July 12, calling for the release of photojournalist Shawkan, who has been held without charge for over 300 days.
Economy
World Bank approves $300million interest-free loan to finance micro enterprises in Egypt
Ahram:World Bank approves $300 million interest free loan to Egypt
TNN:World Bank approves $300 million loan to Egypt
In this article: The World Bank has approved a $300million interest free loan for Egypt to finance micro and small enterprises in an attempt to boost the infrastructure for small and medium enterprises, particularly in Upper Egypt. “The World Bank is currently developing a strategy for joint projects with the Egyptian government for the upcoming period, said Naggi Bin Haseen, executive director for trade and competitiveness projects in the Middle East at the World Bank.”
Security Sector
Homemade bomb explosion in Gharbiya, no casualties or deaths
Aswat Masriya:Homemade grenade explodes north of Cairo, no casualties or deaths
In this article: A homemade bomb exploded in Gharbiya, resulting in zero casualties or deaths. Authorities were able to defuse the bomb, which was found near Samanoud Court in Gharbiya.
Foreign Relations
Egyptians condemn violence in Gaza, Popular Campaign calls for protest and collection of medical supplies to send to Gaza
Ahram:Coptic Orthodox Church condemns attack on Gaza
Ahram: Egyptians protest in solidarity with Gaza
In this article: A few hundred Egyptians gathered in downtown Cairo to protest the violence taking place in the Palestinian Gaza strip, which has resulted in the deaths of over 150 Palestinians in under a week due to Israeli airstrikes. The protest was called by the Popular Campaign to Support the Palestinian Intifada, who also put together a convoy of medical supplies to send to Gaza. The Coptic Orthodox Church has also condemned the Israeli violence on Palestinian civilians.