Time to end remand prisoners file in Egypt: Amr Moussa to National Dialogue

CAIRO – 3 May 2023: Former Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, also the chair of the outgoing 50-Member Committee tasked with amending Egypt's 2012 Constitution, has called for ending the file of remand prisoners in Egypt.

In a speech during the opening session of the National Dialogue on Wednesday, Moussa said people are wondering about the fate of the remand prisoners in Egypt.

“It is time to directly, immediately and comprehensively deal with this file in order for it to be permanently closed,” Moussa affirmed.

Moussa called for submitting the outcomes of the dialogue to the Parliament for discussion, stressing that the dialogue is ongoing inside the door and everywhere in Egypt, including the cafes, forums, political parties, syndicates, universities and other gatherings.

He also called for addressing the slums issue across the nation, saying that it should be on top of the National Dialogue's agenda.

The National Dialogue’s opening session kicked off today with a broad-based and effective participation by representatives of all syndicates, political forces and NGOs.

Multiple political, economic, and social topics are set to be discussed during the dialogue’s various sessions.

The opening session is open to all accredited Egyptian and foreign media outlets and the dialogue’s sessions are set to be public.

Human rights files, including amending the provisions of the pretrial detention and releasing pretrial detainees, are set to become on top of the dialogue’s agenda.

Meanwhile, General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan said on Tuesday that he received “reassurances” that Case 173 in which a number of Egyptian and foreign NGOs have been charged of receiving illegal funds from abroad, will be closed soon.

Since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called for the dialogue last year, more than 1,200 remand prisoners have been released and more than 15 convicts received a presidential pardon.

Sisi delivered a recorded speech at the opening session, where he stressed support to the dialogue and pledged to pave the way for its success.

Sisi has stressed that the “diverse and different” viewpoints and proposals significantly enhance the effectiveness of the National Dialogue’s outcomes that he is expecting.