203 jailed protesters pardoned by Egyptian president

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has pardoned 203 jailed protesters who have been sentenced for violating the abrogated protest law issued in November 2013.

This pardon is the second in four months recommended by a committee formed in October last year to evaluate politically motivated cases.

“The prisoners [on the second list] have all received final verdicts in their cases, and are by and large students or individuals with critical health conditions,” local news portal Ahram Online quoted committee member Karim El-Sakka.

In November last year, 82 prisoners were pardoned and it is reported that a third list of beneficiaries will be issued soon.

Three months ago, Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court issued a ruling deeming unconstitutional Article 10 of the protest law, which permits the country’s interior minister to bar protests without court approval, Ahram Online reports.

It added that the ruling stated that those looking to organise street protests should only be obliged to notify authorities and not obtain prior approval.

The controversial Act 107 was signed into law on November 24, 2013 by former president Adly Mansour garnering a lot of local and international criticisms.