In pics: 2,787 prisoners, 690 debtors released on 1st day of Eid al-Fitr

CAIRO – 15 June 2018: A total of 2,110 prisoners were released on Friday per a presidential pardon, while 677 others were out on conditional release. Friday marks the first day of Eid al-Fitr (a religious feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.)


Prisoners released per presidential pardon on first day of Eid al-Fitr on June 15, 2018 - Hazim Abdel Samad/Egypt Today


Prisoners released per presidential pardon on first day of Eid al-Fitr on June 15, 2018 - Hazim Abdel Samad/Egypt Today

The batch of released prisoners included also 690 debtors, as part of a presidential initiative called “Prisons with Debtors” aiming to release all debtors landing behind bars by paying off their debts.

According to the Interior Ministry, the procedures of releasing the prisoners were finalized over the past few days.


Prisoners released per presidential pardon on first day of Eid al-Fitr on June 15, 2018 - Hazim Abdel Samad/Egypt Today

The decision to release the prisoners on occasion of Eid al-Fitr feast was published in the Gazette out last week.

On May, the Interior Ministry's prison department pardoned 447 prisoners on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day.


Prisoners meet their families after being released per presidential pardon on first day of Eid al-Fitr on June 15, 2018 - Hazim Abdel Samad/Egypt Today

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the prison department also found that 473 inmates are qualified for release on parole. The Egyptian government frequently pardons prisoners during national celebrations.

Also on May, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi pardoned About 332 prisoners their freedom. The pardon list included youths and prisoners with health problems.

In October 2016, President Sisi announced the formation of a presidential pardon committee, headed by political thinker, Osama al-Ghazaly Harb, for pardoning detainees with charges pending further investigation.

In November 2016, Sisi declared the first presidential pardon list, pardoning 82 detainees, including TV presenter and religious thinker Islam al-Behery, who was charged with “contempt of Islam”.

A second pardon list was declared in March 2017, pardoning 203 detainees. The list included five journalists, according to Masrawy news outlet. In June 2017, Sisi announced pardoning 502 detainees.

On the anniversary of October 6 War, 244 Egyptian prisoners regained their freedom after receiving a pardon by a presidential decree.

Additional report with MENA