Egypt: Former presidential aspirant released from prison
Egyptian opposition figure Ahmed al-Tantawi has been released from prison, according to his lawyer, after serving a one-year sentence for breaching electoral regulations.
Ahmed al-Tantawi was released, his lawyer Khaled Ali wrote on the X platform on Thursday.
Mr Al-Tantawi was seen as the only serious challenger to incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi in Egypt’s 2023 presidential elections, but he was eliminated from the race after failing to collect the required endorsements to run.
He accused the authorities and Mr al-Sissi’s loyalists of obstructing his supporters.
Shortly after, he was charged along with other members of his campaign.
Mr Al-Sissi first took office in 2014, one year after the army led by al-Sissi deposed Egypt’s democratically elected but divisive Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi.
Mr Al-Sissi was re-elected in 2018 before securing his third term in office with nearly 90 per cent of the vote in 2023, keeping him in power until at least 2030.
Egypt has seen a crackdown on freedom of expression, with hundreds of secular activists and Islamists imprisoned or forced into exile, which has triggered an outcry from human rights advocates.
According to political opponents, there have been no free elections since Mr al-Sissi came to power, and all significant opposition has been suppressed.
(dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Heading 1
20,000 pigs killed in Canada wildland fires
The fire incident at the farm occurred as 200 separate wildfires were burning across different parts of Ontario, prompting evacuation of residents.
States
Court remands Anambra teenager over alleged defilement
The teenager faces a one-count charge of defilement.
States
Yobe woos 50 foreign, local investorsÂ
Mr Chikaji said, “Yobe is open for business, not just in aspiration but in practice.”
Opinion
Azu Ishiekwene: Shettima’s final test
Vice-President Kashim Shettima cannot be blamed for having doubts about whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would renominate him as his running mate for a second term.
Anti-Corruption
Presidency memo justifies Gbajabiamila’s role in NUPRC N54 billion revenue controversy
But the memo defended the chief of staff, asserting that Mr Gbajabiamila was acting under Mr Tinubu’s orders.
World
UN says over 500 Rohingya refugees feared dead after two ships sink off Myanmar coast
A second boat, reportedly carrying about 280 people, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
