Egyptian National Dialogue praises release of 151 remanded young men, students

CAIRO – 5 September 2024: The Board of Trustees of the National Dialogue issued a statement expressing gratitude to Attorney-General Mohamed Shawky for his recent directive.

This directive instructed the Public Prosecution to review the cases of certain detainees held in pretrial detention. As a result of this review, 151 young men and students were released from pretrial detention while their cases are handled by the Supreme State Security Prosecution.

The release followed a commitment from the detainees' families to ensure proper follow-up with the Public Prosecution.

The Board of Trustees of the National Dialogue emphasized that since the launch of the National Dialogue, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has been dedicated to implementing its recommendations.

The Board noted that the President has consistently utilized his constitutional powers to advance these recommendations, directing the government on multiple occasions to enforce and activate the outcomes of the dialogue. As a result, many of the dialogue’s recommendations have been successfully put into effect.

The releases come two weeks after the president urged action on pretrial detention, underscoring the importance of reducing its maximum durations.

In August, the president emphasized the necessity to maintain its preventive nature as a measure necessitated by investigations, without it evolving into a punitive action.

Sisi also highlighted the need for activating the application of diverse alternative pretrial detention measures.