Egypt's President Fattah El Sisi orders government to review pre-trial detentions

Leader says his action is rooted in 'genuine desire' to apply the constitution

Abdel Fattah El Sisi 'emphasises the importance of lowering the maximum duration of pre-trial detentions', a presidential statement said. EPA

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Wednesday called for an end to long pre-trial detentions of suspects, a practice criticised by human rights activists as unjust and unconstitutional.

“The president emphasises the importance of lowering the maximum duration of pre-trial detentions while safeguarding them as a precautionary measure necessitated by continuing investigations but not applied as a punishment,” said a presidential statement.

It quoted the Egyptian leader as saying alternatives should be implemented and that victims of wrongful detention should be compensated.

Authorities can currently hold suspects for up to two years without trial, provided a judge renews their detention every 45 days. In some cases, police have filed new charges near the end of the two-year limit, allowing them to keep the suspects in custody for longer.

Mr El Sisi declared he was referring the recommendations on pre-trial detentions made by the National Dialogue – a forum of experts, academics and politicians he has created to make non-binding policy suggestions – to the government for review.

“My response to the recommendations of the National Dialogue is rooted in a genuine desire to implement the tenets of the constitution,” the presidential statement said.

His statement was quickly welcomed by human rights lawyer Negad Al Borai, a senior member of the National Dialogue's board of trustees.

In a Facebook post, Mr Al Borai appealed to the attorney general to immediately order the release of detainees who have been jailed for two years without trial. He also called on parliament – which is dominated by supporters of Mr El Sisi – to take the National's Dialogue's recommendations into consideration while debating a new criminal procedures law that is before the house.

“Let us close this file and move towards the future hand in hand,” he wrote.

Lengthy detention without trial has been a major civil rights concern over the years. While critics claim there are thousands of political prisoners, authorities insist there are none in Egypt and that everyone in detention has gone through the judicial process.

Faced with questions about these detentions, Mr El Sisi has repeatedly said Egypt's security and stability take precedence. He has also maintained that the right to decent housing, medical care and education are as important as human rights and freedom of expression.

However, authorities have recently shown a measure of tolerance for criticism of economic policies, mostly on social media platforms, amid growing concern over rising prices since an economic crisis hit the country in 2022.