CAIRO, May 4 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt released 986 prisoners upon a presidential pardon, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement, yesterday.
The move, which marks Eid al-Fitr on Monday, came two weeks after the release of 3,273 inmates, by the presidential decree on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day.
The Egyptian president, according to the country’s constitution, can issue pardon decrees for prisoners, who had received final unappealable court rulings.
The president usually issues a pardon decree on public holidays, including Muslim festivals, the holy month of Ramadan, and the July 23 Revolution Day.
Last week, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered the reactivation of the presidential pardon committee, that was formed in 2016, to review releasing prisoners for non-terrorism-related crimes.– NNN-MENA
