Egyptian authorities released on Thursday dozens of prisoners of conscience under a presidential pardon, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
MP Tarek El Khouli, a member of the Presidential Pardon Committee, revealed the names of 60 pardoned prisoners of conscience.
He also announced the release of the first batch of imprisoned debtors in Egypt, comprising 75 men and women, in coordination with civil society organizations.
Separately, Egypt on Tuesday kicked off the national dialogue called for by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
All political forces were invited, except for the one that had resorted to violence, namely the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Sisi tasked on April 26 the Youth National Conference with coordinating with political parties, movements and youth groups to hold political dialogue and prepare for the so-called “new republic.”
He also called for reactivating the Presidential Pardon Committee and expanding its work base in cooperation with the relevant agencies and civil society organizations.
He further released dozens of political prisoners, journalists and activists from pre-trial detention.
Dialogue coordinator Diaa Rashwan told a press conference following the National Dialogue's Board of Trustees’ first meeting that more prisoners will be released soon.
