Latest news with #Gebali
Middle East
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
House speaker: Debate on old rent remains open until all-out vision ensuring social peace reached
CAIRO, May 11 (MENA) - House of Representatives Speaker Counselor Hanafi el-Gebali said discussions on old rent and community dialogue sessions will remain open until a comprehensive legislative vision is formulated ensuring social peace and achieving justice without bias envisaging a consensus appealing to the nation and its citizens. In a statement delivered by the speaker of the House of Representatives at the onset of Sunday's plenary session on the House's actions on file of rent laws (old rent) the House Speaker said, "The Egyptian public opinion is closely following the parliament's discussions on exceptional rent laws - known in the media as old rent, due to the special nature of this issue and the social and economic entanglements that have accumulated over decades." "As the House of Representatives recognizes the sensitivity of this issue, it deals with it with its constitutional responsibilities towards the nation and its citizens alike," He said. "Since the start of its current legislative session, the House has demonstrated a clear will to address thorny issues through an approach based on dialogue, partnership, and consensus. This embodies its deep commitment to judicial rulings, particularly those of the Supreme Constitutional Court and seeks to establish a right balance between the right to property and the right to adequate housing, " Gebali added. He also said the House appreciates the two draft laws submitted by the government to implement the Constitutional Court's ruling, affirming the importance of having the discussion remain open and that the hearings continue being held with unprecedented transparency—until a comprehensive legislative vision incorporating societal peace and achieving justice among all parties without bias is reached, in a way that realizes the public and the nation's interests. (MENA) S A S/D A E
Al-Ahram Weekly
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Criminal Procedures Law approved - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Following three years of preparation and five months of extensive discussions, parliament finally approved the 544-article Criminal Procedures Law on Tuesday. The bill — which sets out the procedures for investigating, prosecuting, and trying criminal cases — received semi-final approval on 24 February. Speaker Hanafi Gebali said the law would be finalised only after a thorough and legal revision. The law includes six sections which cover criminal prosecution, evidence collection, courts, appeals, enforcement, and international judicial cooperation over criminal matters. The law, which initially consisted of 540 articles, gained four new articles during the debate. One gave the justice minister the authority to issue executive orders to implement the law, and another that annuls capital punishment when reconciliation is accepted by the victims' family, in accordance with Islamic Sharia. Gebali said that for decades, legislative stagnation had affected criminal procedures 'and during those decades numerous efforts have attempted to formulate a modern law for Egypt that is worthy of the aspirations of its people, but they have stumbled repeatedly. The current parliament is credited with having breathed the spirit of change into outdated texts, redrafting them to keep pace with modern times and which respond to the needs of society.' Gebali explained how the drafting of the law began with the formation of a subcommittee, a unique parliamentary precedent, consisting of MPs, officials, and legal specialists. 'This committee changed into a vibrant workshop and its door was opened to listen to views from all ideological backgrounds because it honestly believes that constructive dialogue leads to balanced and credible legislation,' he said. Representatives from the Bar Association, the National Council for Human Rights, the Senate, and the Interior Ministry took part in the debates. Gebali added that 'we do not claim perfection in drafting and discussing this law because we know that it will have to be amended every now and then to be in line with changing times.' Justice Minister Adnan Al-Fangari described the approval of the new law as a defining moment in the history of Egypt because it preserves constitutional rights, serves the interests of society, and affirms commitment to its security and stability. 'It also guarantees fair trials, reinforces respect of human rights and reduces the length of pretrial detention,' Al-Fangari said. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Mahmoud Fawzi said the final approval of the new law should be viewed as an exceptional moment in the history of Egypt's legal and parliamentary system. 'The new legislation will replace the law which has been in place since 1951, thanks in large part to cooperation between the government and parliament,' Fawzi said. The Criminal Procedures Law included a number of articles that sparked widespread controversy among lawyers, journalists, judges and the National Dialogue's Board of Trustees. Most of the criticism was directed at Article 123 which relates to pretrial detention. The Press Syndicate proposed that pretrial detention be revoked altogether in favour of alternatives such as electronic surveillance and house arrest. The proposal was rejected by Justice Ministry consultants as 'impractical'. Minister Al-Fangari said Article 123 includes guarantees that excessive and indefinite use of pretrial detention will not be used and that it meets the demands of civil society. The final draft of Article 123 reduces the maximum period of pretrial detention for misdemeanours from four to six months, for felonies from 12 to 18, and for crimes that carry the death penalty or life imprisonment from 18 to 24 months. Article 523 was another sticking point. It states that individuals wrongly detained pending trial are entitled to financial compensation from the government but stipulates that individuals seeking compensation have not been detained pending trial in other cases and have been acquitted of all charges. Three articles — 79, 80, and 82 — also triggered a backlash. The articles allow prosecutors, after obtaining permission from a judge, to issue an order to seize all letters, messages, telegrams, newspapers, publications, and parcels, and to order the monitoring of wired and wireless communications, social media accounts and applications and their various contents that are not available to everyone, emails, text messages, and audio and video messages, and to place specific mobile phones, electronic websites and other technical devices under surveillance, and to make recordings of conversations that take place in private. The orders to seize, view, monitor or record must be for a period not exceeding 30 days. The judge may renew this period for one or more similar periods. Fawzi argued that these articles were necessary because they are considered useful measures in revealing the truth in a felony or misdemeanour. According to Fawzi, the bill includes articles that protect private lives and guarantee personal freedoms. First, he said, the law explicitly stipulates that homes are inviolable and may be entered, searched, monitored, and eavesdropped only after obtaining a judicial order specifying the place, time and purpose thereof. 'The law does not give police officers free reign to search homes,' said Fawzi. He indicated that for the first time the law allows the use of technology to notify defendants of legal proceedings and conduct remote trials. A telephone notification centre with the jurisdiction of each district court affiliated with the Justice Ministry will be established and linked to the Civil Status Sector to send telephone and electronic notifications, a step that represents a breakthrough in the judicial system in Egypt. The law also restricts the authority of travel ban orders to be within the jurisdiction of the public prosecutor or his deputy, or the competent investigating judge. It stipulates that the ban order be issued with reasons for a specific period. Individuals will also have the right to appeal the order while the court should adjudicate it within a period not exceeding 15 days from the date of it being reported. The law also provides effective legal protection for witnesses, informants, experts, victims and defendants, and adding further guarantees for the right to a defence by establishing the principle of no trial without a lawyer, which allows each defendant to have a lawyer present. In the event that there is no lawyer, the draft law obliges the investigating or trial authority to appoint a lawyer to defend the defendant at all stages of investigation and trial, activating the protection of the rights of women and children and providing the necessary assistance to people with disabilities and the elderly. * A version of this article appears in print in the 1 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
10-03-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt's Parliament Speaker Honors 10th of Ramadan Victory Anniversary
H-Tayea On Monday, Egyptian Parliament Speaker Hanafi Gebali delivered a speech marking the anniversary of the 10th of Ramadan Victory, a historic milestone in Egypt's military and national history. During the general session of the House of Representatives, Gebali highlighted the great sacrifices and heroic efforts of the Egyptian Armed Forces in reclaiming land and restoring national dignity during the October War. He emphasized that even after 52 years, this victory remains a source of pride and inspiration for all Egyptians. "Each year, on the 10th of Ramadan, Egypt and the Arab world commemorate this defining moment—a testament to the courage, resilience, and unwavering determination of our Armed Forces. This victory embodies the sacrifices made for the sake of our land and honor," Gebali stated. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Egyptian Armed Forces, and the entire Egyptian people, reaffirming that this anniversary serves as a reminder of national unity and the commitment to defending the homeland. Gebali also underscored the broader significance of the October War victory, stating: "The legacy of October is not just about military triumph; it carries a timeless message for future generations. It reminds us all of our duty to protect our nation, to work tirelessly for its progress, and to always put Egypt's interests above all else—just as the heroes of October did when they sacrificed everything for their country."
Al-Ahram Weekly
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Standing up to Trump - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Trump's statements about deporting and relocating the Palestinians from Gaza have been condemned by the public in Egypt The House of Representatives, the lower house of Egypt's parliament, and all the country's political parties teamed up this week to denounce US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to forcibly displace the Palestinian residents of Gaza to Egypt and Jordan. Trump went further in his statements on Monday by threatening to consider withholding US aid from Egypt and Jordan if they do not comply with his request to take in the Palestinians from Gaza. The proposals about transferring more than 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza ignore the fact that the Palestinian cause is not just a geographical dispute, but the cause of a people struggling for their legitimate historical rights, said House Speaker Hanafi Gebali this week. He stressed that 'such proposals, which attempt to circumvent the rights of the Palestinian people, are not limited to threatening the lives of the Palestinians alone, but rather represent a danger to regional security and stability.' He noted that the Egyptian parliament firmly and categorically rejects any arrangements or attempts to change the geographical and political reality of the Palestinian cause, because such policies have only led in the past to deepening the Middle East crisis and perpetuating injustice. Displacing the Palestinians, he said, would mean the possibility of transferring the conflict to other lands, with disastrous repercussions for the entire region. 'The only solution to achieving lasting and permanent peace is to implement the two-state solution, which guarantees the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,' Gebali said. He indicated that he had asked the House's Policy Committee to hold communications with regional and international parliaments to explain Egypt's firm position on the Palestinian cause and the necessity of strengthening parliamentary relations to convey Egypt's voice in support of justice and peace. 'I asked the heads of the committees of foreign relations, Arab affairs, African affairs, defence and national security, and human rights to develop a vision for drafting a comprehensive document that reflects the historical and current Egyptian position towards the Palestinian cause,' Gebali said. 'This document will be drafted in coordination with the Foreign Ministry and will be sent to all world parliaments.' The House's Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement on Saturday that Trump's statements regarding the future of Gaza 'do not help efforts underway to calm and resolve the current crisis and should rather be considered as blatant bias in favour of Israel's extremist government led by Netanyahu.' The statement stressed the committee's rejection of all practices that aim to undermine the rights of the Palestinians, including legitimising settlements, annexing land, and forced displacement, whether temporary or permanent. Deputy Chairman of the House's Arab Affairs Committee Ayman Mehasseb told Al-Ahram Weekly that the Egyptian parliament's position did not stem from short-sighted political considerations, but from a firm commitment to the principles of international law and international legitimacy, which have repeatedly affirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinians. Mehasseb praised the Egyptian Foreign Ministry for its clear-cut statements against the displacement of the Palestinians and for reflecting the steadfastness of the Egyptian position in supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is their right to live on their land without fear of displacement or relocation. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during their meeting in Washington on Monday that the Arab states unanimously rejected Trump's plan to displace the Palestinians from Gaza and to take control of the enclave. The US media said Egypt's Foreign Ministry was pushing back against Trump's stated plan for Gaza and calling for the protection of Palestinian rights. Abdelatty stressed the importance of speeding up the reconstruction of Gaza while the Palestinians remained on their land, rejecting any forced displacement and reaffirming the strong support of the Arab states and international community for their steadfastness. He highlighted Egypt's commitment to coordinating with the US administration to achieve a 'comprehensive and just peace and stability' in the region. Mohamed Hegazi, a former deputy to Egypt's foreign minister, said that the visit of Abdelatty, followed by that of Rubio to the region together with that of Jordan's King Abdullah to Washington and the expected trip of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to Washington, will contribute to re-crystallising the political approach of the regional and international parties for a final settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. These meetings, according to Hegazi, will convince the US administration that most of the initiatives that it has presented over previous years have failed because its focus has been on Israeli interests without considering the interests and security of the Palestinian and regional states. Diaa Rashwan, head of the State Information Service (SIS) and coordinator of the Board of Trustees of the National Dialogue, described Trump's plan for taking over Gaza as an attempt at 'stealing the property of others'. Rashwan said the displacement of the Palestinians was a red line for Egypt and Jordan, even if Trump threatened to cut off aid to these Arab states. 'I don't think that Trump will cut off aid to Egypt or Jordan, because if he does, he must bear the consequences of this decision in mind since this aid is directly related to the peace treaties with Israel,' Rashwan said. US assistance to Egypt primarily serves American interests in the region, he said, adding that the US needs Egypt as it is the key to stability in the region and has massive political influence in the Middle East. The Egyptian Parties Alliance, a coalition including 42 political parties, said in a statement on Sunday that it categorically rejected all blackmail attempts and plans aiming at forcing the displacement of the Palestinians from their land. The alliance also announced its support for the decisions that President Al-Sisi had taken to preserve Egypt's national security against threats resulting from the war on Gaza. Tayseer Matar, secretary-general of the alliance and deputy chairman of the Senate's Industrial Committee, said Egypt would never succumb to any kind of extortion or pressure to accept the Palestinians from Gaza on its land. 'The Trump-Netanyahu plan in this respect is a conspiracy aimed at destabilising the Middle East at the expense of the rights of the Palestinians,' Matar said in a statement, reiterating that Egypt, owing to its historical position, will remain a supporter of the Palestinian cause and 'will not accept the relinquishment of a single grain of its land in return for money or aid.' Additional reporting: Doaa El-Bey * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
Middle East
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
Parliament speaker lauds Egyptian police's strong will, determination
CAIRO, Jan 26 (MENA) - House of Representatives Speaker Hanafi el Gebali lauded on Sunday the patience, strong will, courage and determination of the Egyptian police in confronting challenges seeking to undermine the country's security and stability. He paid tribute to policemen who sacrificed their lives in defense of homeland. Gebali was speaking at the start of the general session of the parliament on the anniversary of Police Day and January 25 revolution. He praised the wise directives of political leadership that spared the country the conflicts experienced now many countries in the region.
