Ministry of Interior urges citizens to preserve public order

CAIRO - 26 September 2019: In a statement released on Thursday, the Ministry of Interior urged Egyptian citizens to abide by laws and rules pertinent to public order warning it will strictly and rigorously thwart any attempts to undermine the country’s security and stability.

The statement is issued amid calls by Spain-based contractor Mohamed Ali to organize protests against the regime on Friday, September 27. Tens of citizens participated in demonstrations that lasted for very little time on Friday, September 20. Those took place mainly in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and Suez governorate after the final match of the Egyptian Super Cup.

Ali has worked with the Armed Forces Engineering Authority for 16 years before fleeing to Spain due to his indebtedness to banks and suppliers. He started in September a series of videos attacking the regime.

The Ministry of Interior released on Thursday 403 prisoners in fulfillment of presidential pardons issued in August in the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

After examining all eligible prisoners’ cases, the committee in charge decided to grant 257 conditional releases, and 146 unconditional releases.

Regarding presidential pardons, they are customary to national and religious occasions. According to article 155 of the constitution, the president is allowed to issue pardons only after a final ruling is issued.

However, the perpetrators of certain crimes are not eligible for pardon. These crimes comprise arms trafficking, terrorism, drug trafficking of more than 10 kilograms, “heroin” trade regardless of the quantity, and revenge killing.