408 inmates released per presidential pardon

CAIRO - 22 March 2019: A group of 408 prisoners has been released per a presidential pardon on Friday.

The released group is part of a total of 6,925 prisoners and detained debtors, who were granted their freedom on January 25, 2019. Egyptians celebrated the eighth anniversary of the uprising that ended the 30-year rule of former President Hosni Mubarak. The uprising was staged on the Egyptian Police Day on January 25, 2011 to protest against the ministry’s crackdown on civilians during Mubarak’s era.

On March 14, a total of 413 inmates were released and another group of 620 prisoners was also released on February 28. The first released group of 585 walked out of jail on February 14.

According to the constitution, the president has the right to issue pardons for convicted prisoners after consulting with the Cabinet.

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.