Maghreb Edition

Egypt: Under pressure from striking lawyers, regime releases jailed attorneys

Posted On 23 January 2023

Number of times this article was read : 880
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group

The North Africa Journal’s WhatsApp Group

Members of the Egyptian Bar Association on Sunday called off a days-long strike held in protest against the jailing of six colleagues, a statement said. The association had announced Thursday an open-ended strike to condemn their colleagues’ sentencing to two years in jail over a court brawl earlier this month. The bar association decided “to cancel the suspension of work”, it said in the statement.

The move came after an appeals court on Sunday ordered the six be released and scheduled a verdict for February 5.  The lawyers had been sentenced on Wednesday for their part in the fight with three clerks during a court session in Marsa Matrouh on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast on January 5, according to state-run daily Al-Ahram.

The association had earlier claimed there was “a clear intention” by authorities to keep the six lawyers in detention “without real justification”,  denouncing a “rush to bring them to trial without taking the time to carry out a real investigation”.

Last month, in a rare display of dissent in a country where public demonstrations are banned, thousands of lawyers demonstrated in Cairo against the government’s introduction of a new electronic invoicing system.

AFP
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Niger Moves Uranium From SOMAÏR Mine Despite Arbitration Ruling

Niger’s military authorities have authorized the removal and transport of uranium from the SOMAÏR mine at Arlit without the involvement of longtime operator Orano, prompting the French nuclear group to denounce the shipment as illegal and in breach of a September 2025 World Bank–linked arbitration ruling. While Niamey signals plans to sell the stock on the open market as an assertion of resource sovereignty, the move raises legal, safety, and security concerns as uranium travels by road through conflict‑affected Sahel corridors.

Benin Soldiers Mount Brief Coup Attempt

In the span of a few hours on December 7, a small group of soldiers in Benin, West Africa, moved from night‑time attacks on senior officers’ homes to a televized announcement claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution. Forces loyal to the government swiftly retook the national broadcaster and key positions in Cotonou, and authorities now say the coup attempt has been defeated even as some officers remain missing and questions about the mutineers’ support network persist.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.