Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has directed the legal procedures for issuing a presidential pardon for 600 individuals convicted of various crimes, both men and women. Ali Mehran, head of the Health and Population Committee in the Egyptian Senate, stated that "President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's decision regarding the pardon of those convicted cuts through the skepticism regarding the seriousness of the national dialogue and confirms the political leadership's commitment to providing a positive atmosphere that aligns with the national dialogue. This is evident through the prompt response and quick implementation of one of the key demands raised in the dialogue, which is the release of prisoners, alongside the continued work of the pardon committee and the issuance of the presidential pardon."
He added that "the presidential pardon decisions confirm that the state is diligently working on the issue of human rights in Egypt, as well as President Sisi's concern for the future of his people." The Arab Organization for Human Rights welcomed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's directive to pardon 600 sentenced individuals. The organization's president, Alaa Shehabi, stated that this decision comes in response to the calls from the organization and other human rights institutions and political parties, adding that a more intensive move from the public prosecution is expected to review pre-trial detention for some defendants charged with public interest-related crimes.
