Statement by the National Council for Human Rights

The National Council for Human Rights NCHR welcomes the decision of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to grant a presidential pardon for the remainder of the sentences imposed on a number of convicts, following the completion of the requisite constitutional and legal procedures. The Council views this decision as a practical manifestation of the constitutional powers vested in the President of the Republic, and as a step that underscores a growing commitment to reinforcing the principles of swift justice and upholding fundamental rights and freedoms.

 

The Council affirms that the President’s response to its appeal for pardoning certain convicts reflects a genuine spirit of institutional participation and an enhanced recognition of the Council’s mandate as enshrined in Article 99 of the Constitution and relevant legislation, positioning it as the national mechanism entrusted with the protection and promotion of human rights.

 

The Council further emphasizes that presidential pardons extend beyond their humanitarian impact on the families concerned. They carry a profound rights-based significance by reinforcing the principle of proportionality between punishment and its intended rehabilitative purpose, thereby consolidating the constitutional foundation which places human dignity and the right to reintegration at the center of penal policies.

 

This decision represents a tangible contribution to the implementation of Egypt’s National Human Rights Strategy, strengthens public trust between state institutions and society, and sends a clear signal that balancing the requirements of criminal justice with the principles of human compassion is a sustainable pillar of public policy.

 

The Council reiterates its commitment to continue fulfilling its role by submitting recommendations and practical proposals to the competent authorities for the development of penal policies, the expansion of alternatives to custodial sentences, and the assurance of compliance with constitutional guarantees and the international conventions to which Egypt is a party.

 

In conclusion, the Council affirms that this presidential decision constitutes an advanced human rights response to longstanding appeals from civil society, offering a message of hope and a renewed opportunity for individuals to return as active citizens who contribute to strengthening social peace and advancing the public good.

 

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