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Al-Sisi issues decree on repatriating foreign prisoners in Egypt

November 13, 2014 at 12:32 pm

Egyptian coup leader and President Abdul-Fattah Al-Sisi issued a law on Wednesday that gives him the power to deport foreign prisoners back to their countries of origin on the recommendation of the public prosecutor and based on the interests of Egypt.

Anadolu news agency quoted presidential spokesperson Alaa Yousef as saying: “This decision comes in the framework of upholding the nation’s interests and preserving Egypt’s international image.”

Yousef explained that it would be easier for these foreigners to be reintegrated back into their society if they served their terms in their own countries.

A number of foreigners are currently imprisoned in Egypt after being convicted of trumped up charges related to violence, terrorism and collaboration.

According to Anadolu, the legislative department of the State Council, which is headed by Judge Majdi Al-Ajjani, had prepared the draft law earlier this month. The State Council conditioned the measure to not violating any international conventions.

In Egypt, the president presently has the power to ratify law because he controls the executive and legislative authorities after ousting the elected parliament last year.

On 20 October, Al-Sisi met a delegation from the Arab Journalists Syndicate and told them that he believes the best way for dealing with foreign journalists found guilty of wrong doing in the Egyptian courts is to deport them from the country.