On Monday President Mohamed Morsy issued a mass pardon for all those accused or found guilty of crimes pertaining to the events of the 25 January revolution — with some exceptions.
The decision to issue general amnesty was based on the recommendation of Morsy’s military trial review committee. However, the amnesty only applies to those who were charged in between 25 January 2011 and 30 June 2012, when Morsy took office. The amnesty also does not apply to crimes of murder, according to the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.
Those not included in the amnesty must report to the attorney general or the military prosecutor within a month, Al-Ahram reported.
In a speech given before thousands in Tahrir Square on 29 June, Morsy promised to fight for the release of all civilian detainees in military prisons. He shortly thereafter issued a decree to form a panel to review the cases of those detainees.
Since then, that presidential committee has released hundreds of detainees convicted in both military and civilian courts in several waves of pardons.
Activists have said that despite these mass pardons, Morsy has done little to stop the brutality of the military police. The demand the release of all civilians convicted in military trials since January 2011, without exception.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
