Group of 413 prisoners released

CAIRO – 27 June 2019: A total of 413 prisoners came out of prisons as per a presidential decree on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr (the feast of breaking the fast), the Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement added that 170 inmates were released as per the presidential pardon, while the other 243 were released on parole.

On June 5, 2019, Egypt’s Prisons Department announced releasing 2,002 prisoners on the first day of Eid al-Fitr as per a presidential decree; the first group was released early June, while the second group was released on June 13, 2019.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s decision to grant some inmates their freedom was issued on June 3.

In May, Egypt’s Prison Sector released 266 prisoners on parole, while 85 others were released as per a presidential pardon.

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