Prisoners pardoned PRESIDENT Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi earlier this week issued a presidential pardon to over 600 prisoners. Pardons were given to 477 prisoners on the occasion of Police Day and the anniversary of the 2011 January Revolution. Over 140 more prisoners were released following an examination of cases by the Presidential Pardon Committee of those who are eligible for conditional release. According to Presidential Decree 18/2018, the committee will hold meet on remaining prisoners to decide who is entitled to a pardon. Tarek Al-Khouli, a member of the Presidential Pardon Committee, said an international conference will be held to review the committee's efforts. A full report on the committee's achievements since it was formed in 2016 will be presented during the meeting, Al-Khouli added. This is the fifth pardon issued by Al-Sisi since the formation of the pardon committee in October 2016. Since then, 82 prisoners were pardoned in November 2016, 203 were released in March 2017, 502 in June 2017, and 244 were freed in October last year on the anniversary of the 1973 War. ‘Your Vote for Egypt' THE NATIONAL Council for Women (NCW) launched a campaign under the slogan “Your Vote for Egypt” to raise women's awareness regarding the importance of their participation in the upcoming presidential elections. The three-day campaign, which began this week, will last until mid-March, 11 days before the presidential elections scheduled for 26 March. The council will hold nearly 500 meetings in several villages across the country.
