578 prisoners released on commemoration of 6th Oct. victory

CAIRO - 29 November 2018: A total of 578 prisoners have been released on Wednesday on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of October 6 victory as per decree no. 455/2018 issued by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

The decree issued by Sisi aims to grant prisoners a reduction in prison sentences. The total number of freed prisoners has reached 1067 by November 24. Prisoners, who received presidential pardons and conditional release, remain under observation for a designated period of time.

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.