Egypt’s National Dialogue will begin specialized sessions on Tuesday to address the contentious issue of pre-trial detention, a move welcomed by human rights advocates.
The sessions, outlined by the dialogue’s Board of Trustees, will cover a range of topics, including reducing detention periods, exploring alternatives to detention, and compensating those wrongfully detained.
The board also pledged to recommend specific detainees for release.
“There is genuine political will to bring about change regarding pre-trial detention,” said Diaa Rashwan, the dialogue’s general coordinator.
The move comes as part of a broader effort to address human rights concerns in Egypt. Pre-trial detention has long been a point of contention between the government and human rights groups.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi launched the National Dialogue in 2021 to address various issues, including human rights. The dialogue’s Board of Trustees has been discussing pre-trial detention for nearly two years, according to Rashwan.
Negad El-Borai, a human rights lawyer and board member, acknowledged the complexity of the issue, saying it presented both executive and legislative challenges. “We hope to reach a consensus on clear recommendations in this regard,” he said.
Mahmoud Fawzi, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Political Coordination, and a board member emphasized the importance of public understanding of the issue. “There is a clear mandate for effective coordination between the government and the National Dialogue’s Board of Trustees,” he said.
Amira Saber, a Member of Parliament and another board member, described the decision to address pre-trial detention as a “crucial task.” She expressed optimism that the dialogue would create a roadmap for implementing reforms.
The dialogue’s recommendations will be considered by the House of Representatives as it reviews the Criminal Procedure Code, Saber said.
