Egypt - September 2025

On 21 September, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi returned a proposed Criminal Procedure Code to the House of Representatives for further review, rather than signing it into law after its parliamentary approval, a rarity in Egypt. The draft law had drawn criticism from human rights organizations for limiting defendants’ rights and expanding prosecutorial powers. The presidency said the decision responded to the ‘numerous appeals’ calling for amendments. Civil society and rights groups, which had actively campaigned against the bill, welcomed the move as an opportunity to strengthen legal safeguards. Parliament is expected to consider the presidential objections in upcoming sessions.

Sources: Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy

On 22 September, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a presidential pardon for six prisoners, including prominent activist and writer Alaa Abd Fattah. A leading figure in the 2011 uprising, Alaa Abd Fattah had spent nearly 12 years in prison, with his most recent sentence stemming from a 2021 conviction for ‘spreading false news’ following a social media post in which he denounced the violent death of a detainee in custody. His release followed sustained advocacy by civil society organizations and family members, who had long campaigned for his freedom, as well as international pressure. While rights groups welcomed the pardon as a positive step, they emphasized that thousands remain detained in the country on politically motivated charges.

Sources: Ahram Online, The New Arab, Reporters without borders, Middle East Eye