4th youth pardon list to be released soon: Tarek El-Khouly

CAIRO 29 July 2017: The Detained Youth Committee for presidential pardons to issue its fourth list within the upcoming period, Committee member Tarek El-khouly said on Thursday.

The member’s statement came in response to inquiries about the expected time for the release of of the fourth list.

In a televised interview to privately-owned CBC News extra, Khouly explained that the committee is still receiving cases from families of detainees for the fourth list.

Khouly, who is parliament member in the committee of foreign affairs, noted that the numbers of cases they are currently receiving have decreased than before, however, the committee will continue its work.

He further said that the committee will only conclude its work with receiving the last case.

The committee that was formed in November has released three lists so far, the first pardoned 82 prisoners in November, and second list pardoned 203 prisoners in March.

Meanwhile, the third list that included over 300 was merged with 502 pardoned in celebration of Eid el-fitr ,the festival of breaking the fast. The three lists have included students, females, and individuals detained in connection with publishing and freedom of expression-related crimes.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered forming the committee during the First National Youth Conference that took place October, after veteran politician Osama Al-Ghazali Harb called on the president to release young prisoners during the conference.