Egypt: Sisi pardons 719 prisoners

Egypt’s Ministry of the Interior has released 719 prisoners after President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi issued a presidential pardon permitting their release on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the 1952 Revolution in which a group of army officers toppled the King and abolished the monarchy.

Among the 719 prisoners who were released, 202 were completely relieved from the remaining periods of their sentences while 517 were released on parole.

In May, Al-Sisi pardoned 332 prisoners, mainly youth activists who participated in “illegal” demonstrations in recent years.

The president had promised in 2016 to amend a protest law restricting demonstrations and to release youth imprisoned in demonstrations against his rule.

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