2,002 prisoners, debtors released on Eid al-Fitr occasion

CAIRO – 5 June 2019: Egypt’s Prisons department announced Wednesday releasing 2,002 prisoners on the first day of Eid al-Fitr (the feast of breaking the fast) per a presidential decree, including a number of female debtors, widely known in Arabic as ‘Gharimat’.

Head of the Prison Sector, Major General Zakaria al-Ghamrai said during a Wednesday celebration on the occasion of releasing the prisoners that 139 men and 13 women were released after paying their debts from the ‘Tayhya Masr (Long Live Egypt) Fund.




He added that they were keen to finish the needed procedures as soon as possible to enable them to spend the Eid with their families.

Major Ghamrai said, in his speech, that more prisoners, who are in jail over debts, will be released soon on occasion of the coming religious events and national holidays.
Ahead of Ramadan, other patch of Gharimat were announced to be released per presidential decree.

Head of the National Council for Women (NCW) Maya Morsy has paid tribute to President Abdel Fatah El Sisi's decision to release them.

In a statement, Morsy expressed happiness over president Sisi's decision on the occasion of Ramadan, saying the president always sides with the poor to bring back cheerfulness to their hearts.




She added the president has been keen on supporting the Gharimat financially to establish projects for them with the aim of improving their living conditions.

According to Morsy, some Gharimat are in prisons over failure to pay back trivial debts which sometimes do not exceed EGP 1,000.

On May 31, Egypt’s Prison Sector released 266 prisoners on parole, while 85 others were released as per a presidential pardon, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

The decision of release on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day Egypt celebrates annually on April 25. On the same occasion, a total 170 of inmates as per a presidential pardon, while the rest of 306 prisoners on May 9. Moreover, the Ministry released 518 inmates on parole, while 67 others were granted the presidential pardon on April 30.

According to the constitution, the president has the right to issue pardons for convicted prisoners after consulting with the Cabinet.