Human rights again dominate the conversation on Egypt in the international press

The nation’s human rights record is again leading the conversation on Egypt in the international press. Activist and blogger Wael Abbas was released from prison on Tuesday following his detention last May, the Associated Press reported. Abbas was charged with spreading false news and being connected to an illegal group. The AP story is getting wide pickup (cf: Washington Post and ABC News).

Still making the rounds in the foreign press is the Egyptian lawyer who wore a yellow vest in protest, with both Haaretz and Reuters covering the story. An Alexandrian Court, has ordered the activist be detained for 15 days after a picture circulated of him wearing the yellow vest in imitation French protests. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch demanded the United Nations respond to reports that officials attacked individuals who had spoken to a UN special rapporteur on adequate housing during her visit back in September. The call follows a joint statement earlier this month on the state of housing in Egypt issued by activist groups.

Other headlines worth noting this morning:

• The University of Chicago will bring back its study abroad program to Egypt, according to the Chicago Maroon.
• Al-Azhar and President El-Sisi have been locked in disagreement over how much weight should be given to certain Islamic sources, the Carnegie Middle East Center discusses in an article.
• Egypt pledged USD 71 mn to reconstruct synagogues and Jewish cultural heritage sites, according to Israel National News
• China has launched an initiative to support Egypt’s treatment of burn victims, Xinhua reported.