Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decree granting a presidential pardon for the remaining prison sentences of select convicts, commemorating the 74th anniversary of the July 23, 1952 Revolution.
Under the decree, individuals serving life sentences are eligible for release if they have served 15 calendar years by July 23, 2026.
Those released will be placed under police surveillance for a period of five years, in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 75 of the Penal Code.
The pardon also applies to individuals sentenced to custodial penalties prior to July 23, provided they have served one-third of their sentence by that date, with a minimum duration served of four months.
For those convicted of multiple offenses committed before entering a Correctional and Rehabilitation Center, the pardon applies if they have served one-third of the total duration of their combined sentences.
Released individuals will only be placed under police surveillance if mandated by law or explicitly stated in their court ruling, provided the surveillance period does not exceed five years or the duration covered by the pardon, whichever is shorter.
Provisions
According to the Official Gazette, the provisions of this decree do not apply to individuals convicted of crimes specified in Chapters I, II, II (bis), and III of Book II of the Penal Code, which cover felonies and misdemeanors affecting national security from abroad, felonies and misdemeanors affecting the government internally, explosives, and bribery.
To qualify for the presidential pardon, the convict’s conduct while serving their sentence must demonstrate genuine rehabilitation, and their release must not pose a threat to public security.
Furthermore, cases involving convicts with financial obligations will be referred to the competent prosecution following their release for appropriate legal procedures.
A higher committee composed of relevant security bodies and headed by the Assistant Minister of Interior for the Community Protection Sector will evaluate and determine eligibility for the presidential pardon in accordance with this decree.
