266 prisoners released on parole; 85 others pardoned

CAIRO – 31 May 2019: Egypt’s Prison Sector released 266 prisoners on parole, while 85 others were released as per a presidential pardon, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Friday.

The decision of release on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day Egypt celebrates annually on April 25. On the same occasion, a total 170 of inmates as per a presidential pardon, while the rest of 306 prisoners on May 9. Moreover, the Ministry released 518 inmates on parole, while 67 others were granted the presidential pardon on April 30.

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

In October 2016, President Abdel Fatah al-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.

The Sinai Peninsula was liberated from Israeli occupation following the Egypt-Israel peace treaty signed in Washington in 1979.