Egypt

Sabbahi: Will release political prisoners, amend protest law if president

Presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi again pledged he would release political prisoners if he becomes president.

He also said that he would amend the protests law so as to organize demonstrations and not ban them.

Sabbahi pledged at a rally in Banha on Wednesday to pardon all political prisoners if he becomes president.

“I will not abandon dreams of social justice,” he said. “We have the right to food, freedom and democracy.”
 
“Democracy is the means to confront terrorism,” he said. “We will build a civilian state that does not deprive anyone of the right to peaceful expression.”
 
“The people, the army and the police will all fight anyone pointing a weapon to us,” he said.
 
The presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi had made similar promises during a rally in city of Mahalla.
 
“If president, I’ll cancel the protest law during my first days in presidency. I will release political prisoners. I will not imprison anyone that expresses an opinion against me,” he said.
 
“We have a great opportunity to achieve comprehensive development to all Egyptians. Its key is willingness,” he added.
 
Sabbahi blamed deterioration in public sector as well as Mahalla’s spinning companies on the previous governments due to corruption and mismanagement.
 
He also indicated that he will establish national authority to run the public sector and dissolve nine holding companies that caused deterioration in conditions of Egyptian workers.
 
 
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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