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3 The Presidential Election Commission declares Al-Sisi Egypt’s new president, after capturing 96.9% of the vote. Turnout is indeed a low 47% but Al-Sisi’s supporters are euphoric as they gather in the thousands in Tahrir Square and celebrate his victory with fireworks.
3-8 Despite financial uncertainty and security concerns, the 17th edition of the Ismailia International Film Festival (IIFF) for Documentaries and Shorts begins at venues around the Suez Canal city. The budget was tight, with no private sponsors and only LE 1.2 million provided by the Ministry of Culture. The timing is tight as well, with the festival falling between the official announcement of the presidential election results and the start of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil on June 12. Still, the IIFF attracts 42 films from 32 countries and regional film veterans to serve on the judging panel. Director of photography Kamal Abdel-Aziz returns for his second stint as festival president, while producer Mohamed Hefzy is on board as the festival director.
7 The Shubra El-Kheima Criminal Court sentences 10 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death in absentia for blocking roads during protests and inciting violence during protests in Qalyoub. The sentences comes as Egypt bans unauthorized preachers from giving sermons in a move aimed to curb extremists.
8 Al-Sisi is sworn in as president, vowing that fighting terrorism would be a top priority. The lavish inauguration is attended by the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait’s emir and a lineup of African presidents, but the US sends a senior adviser to the Secretary of State, a more low-level representative, while most European countries send ambassadors.
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10 After a video surfaces showing a woman being sexually assaulted in Tahrir Square, Al-Sisi orders the interior minister to fight sexual harassment. Seven men were arrested for attacks near Tahrir Square during inauguration celebrations. A national campaign launches, starting with a ministerial committee to investigate the reasons behind sexual harassment and steps needed to combat it.
11 Egyptian artist Huda Lotfi wins the grand prize of LE 100,000 at the Alexandria Biennale for Mediterranean Countries for her work exploring Egypt’s culture through painting, videos, photography and installations. Lotfi’s exhibit at the biennale included a three-minute video showing police marching to electronic music, and was based on photographs she took in Tahrir Square in 2011.
13 Journalist Abdullah Kamal dies of a stroke at age 49. Kamal served as editor in chief of Rose al-Youssef magazine and was also a member of the Shura Council between 2007 and 2010.
15 Former Head of the Egyptian Book Organization Fathiya El-Assal, dies at the age of 81. The prolific writer was a pioneering feminist figure, serving as secretary-general of the Progressive Women’s Federation and penning countless drama scripts. Her works are influenced by her own personal hardships such as her experience with FGM, her father’s adultery and the decision to pull her out of school. She was imprisoned three times for her stances on women’s issues.
17 Twelve artifacts reportedly smuggled to the United Kingdom after the January 25 Revolution are transferred to the Egyptian embassy in London for transport back to Egypt. The Middle and New Kingdom artifacts include a panel of red granite from the base of a statue of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, and carved marble and limestone busts.
The same day, a ceremony is held in Washington, DC to present the Egyptian government with the family collection of Cynthia Croasdaile, a former resident of Alexandria. Inspired by news of the post-revolution looting, Croasdaile decided to return her family ushabtis or small funerary statues, circa 685–525 BC. Croasdaile’s father served as head of Phillip’s Petroleum in Egypt in the 1970s, and was presented with these antiquities by his colleagues upon his departure from Alexandria.
17 Mahlab announces his new Cabinet, after being reappointed by Al-Sisi to tackle Egypt’s economic crisis and attract foreign funding. Thirteen new ministers are sworn in while 21 others return, albeit some of them in charge of different portfolios. Khaled Fahmy reclaims his position as minister of environment while Laila Iskandar heads up the only new portfolio in Mahlab’s cabinet: the Ministry of State Cultural Development, in charge of developing slum areas. New faces include Naglaa Al Ahwany (international cooperation), Nahed Ashri (manpower), Ghada Wali
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(social solidarity) and Sameh Shoukry (foreign affairs). Shoukry was ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s secretary of information in the 1990s. Ministers remaining in office include Hany Kadry (finance) and Mohamed Ibrahim (interior).
19 The Giza Criminal Court issues preliminary death sentences to 14 senior Muslim Brotherhood members convicted of terrorism, inciting violence, rioting and murder outside Giza’s Al-Istiqama Mosque after the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi. The sentences are referred to Grand Mufti Shawqy Allam for consideration. Among those sentenced to death were Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, senior Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) member Mohamed Al-Beltagy, FJP deputy chairman Essam Al-Erian, Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya member Assem Abdel Maged, conservative preacher Safwat Hegazy and former Minister of Supply Bassem Ouda.
20 Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah meets briefly with Al-Sisi to show his support for Egypt’s newly elected president. The monarch does not leave his plane as he meets Al-Sisi at Cairo Airport during the short but symbolic meeting.
21 Death sentences are confirmed for Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badei and 182 supporters in a mass trial for the violence that broke out in Minya after President Mohamed Morsi was removed from power in July 2013.
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22 After some delays and hitches, US Secretary of State John Kerry’s diplomatic visit to Cairo provides the impetus to resume US aid to Egypt. Kerry announces, “The process [President Al-Sisi] has put in place, the re-evaluation of human rights legislation, a re-evaluation of the judicial process, are very much on his mind. He’s only been in office for 10 days, but he indicated to me that we should work closely.”
23 Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste are sentenced to seven years in prison and Baher Mohamed to 10 years for working with the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood. The verdict sparked Western outrage, with critics calling the trial a farce.
23 Downtown’s Heytan graffiti space launches its first exhibit focusing on street vendors. The initiative is the joint project of blogger Mahmoud Salem, aka Sandmonkey, and street artist Mohamed El-Mosheer.
28 Al Ahly beats Zamalek 1-0 to win the Cairo Derby.
29 TV series Segn El-Nesa launches on the first day of Ramadan, heralding a change from the usual low-brow holiday entertainment with what critics called brilliant performances by the actors. The series is based on a theater play by late feminist writer Fatheya El-Assal about the lives of female prisoners.
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