Egypt's Presidential Pardon involves omission of incident from criminal record: committee member

CAIRO – 31 May 2022: Lawyer Tarek al-Awady, member of the Presidential Pardon Committee, stated in a TV interview Monday evening that when a convict is granted a presidential pardon, the measure does not just involve their release from prison but also the omission of the incidents from their criminal record.

Awady added that none of the convicts eligible for presidential pardon had been asked to accept any deals for getting out in return.

As for the eligibility requirements, El Awady said in an interview with Youm7 earlier in May that two criteria are being discussed among the members of the committee. He stated that anyone who did not shed blood nor participated in acts of violence and terrorism would be released and those who served the time of pre-trial detention must be released immediately or referred to a trial.

“Those who participated in a protest, wrote [anti-government] post on social media, or distributed leaflets must be included in [the list of] presidential pardon or released if they are in pretrial detention,” Awady stressed.

In April, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reactivated the ‘Presidential Pardon Committee’ which was formed as one of the outcomes of the National Youth conference, as it will expand its cooperation with the competent agencies and civil society.

A total of 986 inmates have been pardoned by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Eid al-Fitr, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior on May 3. Also, Journalists Hany Gresha, Ammer Abdel Moneem, Essam Abdeen were released, on April 30, 2022, per presidential pardon.

“Unfortunately, in the past period, all cases fell under the umbrella of terrorism, whether cases of spreading false news or calling for demonstrations on social media,” Awady added in the interview.

He continued that the committee is still receiving more names so far, and an electronic form has been launched to record prisoners' data. Awady said that the committee members are in talks with professional and labor unions, political parties, whose some of its members have imprisoned, and human rights associations concerned with the issue of detainees to get all data of their inmates.

As for releasing the imprisoned debtors, Awady said that a budget has been allocated, as per a presidential order, to pay their balances, and that the committee is in contact with the Ministry of Social Solidarity regarding this matter.

“Monthly lists will be prepared [by the committee] and submitted to the President,” he said, adding that all inmates, even if they have a dual citizenship, would come under the umbrella of the above-mentioned criteria.

Early on Tuesday, Parliamentarian Tarek al-Khouly posted photos of the release of a new batch of inmates.