Egypt releases inmates on revolt anniversary
About 3,000 prisoners pardoned on orders of country’s military ruler to mark the first anniversary of the revolution.
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| Egyptians gathered in Tahrir Square to mark the first anniversary of the country’s revolution [Getty] |
Egypt is releasing around 3,000 prisoners on the orders of the country’s military ruler to mark the first anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, officials have said.
Security officials told the AFP news agency on Wednesday that 1,959 prisoners were being released after they were pardoned by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi on Saturday.
“Another 1,014 charged with criminal acts are also in the process of being released early for good behaviour,” one official said.
Many of the pardoned prisoners were seen walking out of Tora prison, located on the outskirts of Cairo, witnesses said on Wednesday.
Blogger Michael Nabil, who was jailed last year for insulting Egypt’s armed forces, was among those released a day earlier after being pardoned.
The order to free the prisoners is one of several concessions offered by Tantawi on the anniversary of the revolution, in an apparent bid to placate protesters who have called for mass nationwide demonstrations.
On Tuesday, Tantawi announced the partial lifting of the decades-old emergency law, but said it would still apply to acts of “thuggery”, drawing criticism from local and international rights groups.
The release comes as thousands of Egyptians poured into Tahrir Square, amid differences over whether Wednesday’s rallies were celebrations or a renewed push for change.