Civil Society in Egypt … December 2023
Parties, Syndicates and Human Rights

Section One: Egyptian Political Parties

 

Introduction:

The activities of Egyptian political parties have varied between participating in elections for those who boycotted or ignored them and supporting the Palestinian cause. The Israeli aggression on Gaza still constitutes the central focus of the political parties’ activities.

 

Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan Party):

• The party engaged in activities supporting President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the presidential elections. Organizational meetings were held to discuss the plan to support the president, alongside organizing mass conferences for electoral campaigning. During the voting period, the party actively participated in mobilization efforts, urging voters to cast their ballots. Following the elections, the party organized extensive celebrations to mark the president’s victory.
• The party held numerous conferences to endorse President Sisi, some of which took place under the shadow of the pyramids and within the covered hall of Cairo Stadium. Additionally, the party organized celebrations termed as the “democratic festival” at the conclusion of the election voting process.

 

The Constitution Party (Al Dostour Party):

The party, in conjunction with the Egyptian civil movement, announced its decision not to participate in the presidential elections, and its activity was notably weak during December.

• On December 9th, the party’s president participated in the Arab Freedom Forum in Morocco, held under the theme “Arab Democratic Transition: Challenges and Obstacles.” The party’s president, Ms. Gamila Ismail, delivered a speech in which she criticized the Western model of democracy. She also discussed the party’s experience and its attempt to engage in the presidential elections.

 

Bread and Freedom Party (Under Establishment):

The party continued its support for the Palestinian cause, in addition to addressing domestic issues, after announcing its non-participation in the presidential elections. It engaged in various activities, such as the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The first event was a seminar titled “Women and Violence in Conflict Zones,” featuring the Palestinian activist Maryam Abu Daqqa, who spoke about the suffering of Palestinian women in Gaza.

• On December 5, the party prepared a petition to collect signatures, urging Egypt to receive war casualties from Gaza. On December 10, the party congratulated the Solidarity of trade Unions Federation, which held its founding assembly on December 9, bringing together a coalition of 25 independent labor unions.

• On December 13, the party participated in a solidarity day for Gaza, held at the Journalists’ Syndicate, including a symbolic one-day hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Gaza facing severe food shortages.

Egyptian Social Democratic Party:

The party’s activities focused on managing the electoral campaign for the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Fareed Zahran. The activities varied from organizing conferences, holding meetings with political groups, to establishing a monitoring room for the elections, notably concentrated in the Upper Egypt provinces, especially Sohag, Luxor, and Aswan.

• After the voting began, the party issued a statement addressing the low voter turnout abroad. At the end of the voting process, the electoral campaign released a statement expressing extreme displeasure at preventing campaign representatives from attending the vote counting in all subcommittees and barring them from participating in submitting the results to the general committees. This contradicted the announcement of the Supreme Electoral Commission, which stated that it had not received any complaints from any of the candidates.
• In addition to the party’s campaign activities for its presidential candidate, the party made a statement on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, congratulating persons with disabilities in Egypt. The statement called for addressing the weaknesses in official policies to respond to the problems faced by persons with disabilities. The party also announced its participation in the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign.
• On December 17, the Women’s Secretariat of the party participated in a meeting with the Palestinian activist Maryam Abu Daqqa, invited by the Palestinian Women’s Union. During the meeting, the Women’s Secretariat expressed condolences for the martyrdom of the photographer Samer Abu Daqqa.

 

Socialist Popular Alliance Party:

The party announced its boycott of the presidential elections in a statement issued on November 26. The party focused its activities on supporting the Palestinian cause by issuing several documents that address various aspects of the issue. They also organized seminars that discussed different facets of the conflict with Israeli occupation, whether through official statements, publications, or limited-attendance meetings.

 

Conservative Party (Al Mohafezeen): 

The party announced its non-participation in the presidential elections, with most activities focused on supporting the Palestinian cause, in addition to addressing some domestic issues and the Sudanese situation.

During a party meeting, participants criticized the Egyptian media for its limited attendance in covering the aggression on Gaza.

• On December 11, the party issued a statement condemning the referral of the admins of “Mada Masr” media site to the public prosecution. The statement mentioned that administrative decisions against news websites aim to influence media content and violate freedom of expression.
• On December 20, the party issued a statement addressing the deteriorating situation in Sudan. The statement condemned the Rapid Support Forces militias, accusing them of committing war crimes. It also condemned countries supporting the militias and called on Egypt to intervene in support of the Sudanese people. The statement urged the international community to impose sanctions on the Rapid Support Forces militias.
• On December 22, the party issued a statement regarding the developments in navigation in the Red Sea. The party criticized the U.S. stance, which hastily formed an alliance to address the issue while ignoring the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The statement called for upholding humanitarian values and the necessity of addressing the humanitarian suffering of the people of Gaza.

 

The Republican People’s Party:

The party participated in the presidential elections after the nomination of the party’s president, Hazem Omar. Its activities were limited to the electoral process.

• The party and its candidate attended meetings in southern Upper Egypt, Qalyubia Governorate, southern and central sectors of the Delta.
• On December 12, the party stated on the conclusion of the voting in the presidential elections. The statement praised the organization of the elections and the significant voter turnout. It expressed gratitude to the party coordinators in the various governorates.

 

Al Wafd Party: 

The party’s activities were limited to the electoral campaign for its president, Mr. Abdel Sanad Yamama, who is a candidate in the presidential elections. The electoral campaign for the party president organized a mass conference in Cairo, during which the electoral program was presented, and the candidate listened to the concerns of citizens. Additionally, the conference addressed his stance opposing the aggression on Gaza.

 

The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:

• The movement focused on supporting the Palestinian resistance and utilized its media tools to monitor the events of the war on Gaza, in addition to addressing domestic issues, especially the rising prices.
• The movement issued a statement urging the public to boycott the presidential elections, describing the elections as a theatrical farce. The statement called on the public to engage in popular action and prepare for a new round of real change.
• The movement issued a statement welcoming the establishment of the Solidarity of Trade Unions Federation, consisting of 25 labor unions. The movement expressed its support for the new federation, seeing it as a reinforcement of the labor movement.
• On December 12, the movement issued a statement endorsing the call for a global strike for Gaza. The statement highlighted several sectors that declared their participation in the strike, emphasizing the importance of the strike as a tool to support the Gaza cause.

 

Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions in Egypt

 

Professional Unions:

 

• Egyptian Journalists Syndicate:
• The journalists’ syndicate prepared several letters to the presidential candidates outlining demands for the upcoming president, including the issuance of a law on freedom of information, freedom of opinion and expression. Other demands included the abolition of imprisonment in publishing cases, pretrial detention, amending the press and media regulation law, supporting the journalism industry, exemptions for the debts of the national press institution, a fair wage structure, and setting a minimum wage. Additionally, the union presented political, economic, and social demands for the journalism profession and journalists.
• The union condemned the continued crimes of the occupying entity and its brutal war machine against Palestinian journalists and their families. The latest incident resulted in the martyrdom of three colleagues, including a journalist and media professor at universities in Gaza and Al-Aqsa.
• The head of the Journalists Syndicate stated that after months of negotiations and a successful strike on November 23, journalists working in the Reuters news agency office in Cairo reached an agreement with the company’s management to establish a mechanism for improving wages to help them adapt to economic fluctuations.
• The head of the Journalists Syndicate also confirmed the resolution of the crisis of Wafd newspaper journalists through an official letter from the chairman of the newspaper’s board, announcing a periodic increase in journalists’ salaries in the coming period.
• 63 Egyptian journalists submitted a memorandum to the head of the Journalists Syndicate, requesting facilitation for organizing a field visit to the Gaza Strip.
• The Journalists Syndicate warned against the return of forced displacement scenarios for the Palestinian people and demanded an immediate cessation of the Zionist aggression. It expressed solidarity with Palestinian journalists, calling on all international organizations and free world countries to take immediate action to stop this brutal war against the Palestinian people and ensure the flow of aid.
• On December 9, the Journalists Syndicate and the Egypt Charity Association prepared a shipment of food and medical aid for the people of the Gaza Strip as part of humanitarian efforts to assist Palestinian brothers, especially the residents of Gaza.
• The head of the Journalists Syndicate issued a statement addressing media institutions, urging them to start implementing the minimum wage of 3,500 Egyptian pounds for all colleagues starting from January 1, 2024.

 

• The Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate:
• On December 7, the Women’s Committee of the General Lawyers Syndicate held a training lecture on the crime scene, weapons, and fingerprints at the Nile Lawyers Club in Maadi. Additionally, the Educational Committee of the syndicate organized a free course on procedural law.
• The First Circuit of the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court decided to renew the detention of lawyer Ahmed Nazeer El-Helw for 45 days in Case No. 1940 of 2022, State Security.
• On December 8, the Legal Thought Committee held two lectures, one on artificial intelligence and the other on forensic medicine, for Beni Suef lawyers.
• On December 9, the 15th Criminal Circuit in South Cairo issued a decision to remove the name of lawyer and human rights activist Ziad Al-Alimi from the terrorism lists in Case No. 571 of 2020, State Security.
• On December 14, the General Syndicate of Lawyers published the full text of the Private Conduct Code for Lawyers in preparation for its presentation to the General Assembly scheduled for December 20, 2023.
• On December 18, the Lawyers Syndicate called on the General Assembly to attend, participate, and vote on the decisions of the syndicate council regarding the increase of lawyers’ pensions to a minimum of 2000 Egyptian pounds and a maximum of 4000 Egyptian pounds, as well as the Conduct Code. This is scheduled for December 20, 2023.

 

• The Egyptian Medical Syndicate:
• On November 27, the General Syndicate organized a workshop titled “The Role of Midwives and Doctors in Maximizing Natural Birth.” The workshop addressed the reasons for the decline in natural childbirth in Egypt and the roles assigned to midwives and doctors in the process of natural childbirth.
• On December 18, the General Syndicate conducted a survey and opinion poll for its members, sub-syndicates in the provinces, and healthcare providers. This initiative aimed to ensure that the Doctors Syndicate provides a service that is accepted by its members. The syndicate encouraged the targeted individuals to participate in the survey, send suggestions, and submit all comments via the syndicate’s email.
• On December 23, the syndicate rejected the new draft law on private medical facilities prepared by the Ministry of Health and Population. The syndicate deemed the draft law a “threat to the continuity of providing medical services to the Egyptian citizen.” It noted that the Ministry of Health had been working on the draft for eight months, holding several meetings with relevant and non-relevant parties but did not present it to the Doctors Syndicate or seek its opinion.

 

• The Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate:
• On December 7, the Dakahlia misdemeanor court decided to renew the detention of the pharmacist, Mohamed El-Mongy Saad Hussein, a senior pharmacist at the Quesna Central Hospital, for 15 days pending investigation in case No. 20702 of 2023 in the Dakahlia misdemeanor court. It is worth mentioning that this is the fifth case in which El-Mongy has been circulated since his arrest and imprisonment in 2015.

 

• The Egyptian Engineers Syndicate:
• On December 4, the head of the Engineers Syndicate submitted a request to the head of the New Cairo prosecution office to complete the investigations about violations happened during the voting process at the syndicate headquarters and to hear the testimony of witnesses. The date was set for Tuesday, December 17, 2023, during the scheduled session. Several engineers attended and provided their testimonies, confirming the requests of the Engineers Syndicate in its complaint filed last May.
• On December 19, the head of the Engineers Syndicate approved the decision of the Education and Scientific Research Committees in the House of Representatives to establish the “Technologists Syndicate” and accepted the provisions of a draft law presented by the government regarding the issuance and regulation of the “Technologists Syndicate” law.
• On December 23, the head of the Engineers Syndicate received at the headquarters of the General Syndicate Engineer Magdi El-Saleh, the Secretary-General of the General Union of Palestinian Engineers and the Palestinian Minister of Local Development. During the meeting, the head of the Engineers Syndicate expressed his rejection and condemnation, along with all Egyptian engineers, of the heinous crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

 

• The Acting Professions Syndicate:
• On December 11, the National Election Authority decided to investigate the case of actress “Lebleba” for allegedly voting twice, once inside Egypt and once in Saudi Arabia.
• On December 20, the head of the Acting Professions Syndicate warned against some creators of fake pages bearing his name on various social media platforms. He affirmed that legal actions would be taken against anyone impersonating his identity, name, or creating any fictitious entity using the name of the Acting Professions Syndicate.
• On December 24, the Board of Directors of the Acting Professions Syndicate announced that there would be no New Year’s Eve celebration at the club, taking into consideration the current events in Palestine.

 

• The Medical Professions Federation
• The Federation comprising the unions of human doctors, veterinarians, pharmacists, and dentists, declared the temporary halt of aid request acceptance for members across these four unions. This suspension will be in effect starting Friday, December 15, until January 5 of the following year, as part of the financial year settlement.

 

• The Veterinary Doctors’ Syndicate
• On December 20, the committee responsible for receiving nominations for the midterm elections of the Veterinary Doctors’ Syndicate announced that it would be accepting applications from members interested in running during the syndicate’s vacation days, which are Fridays and Saturdays. This process will continue until the end of the designated period for accepting nominations, scheduled to conclude on December 27, 2023.

 

• The Dental Syndicate
• On December 17, a crisis erupted among dental students studying in foreign universities abroad regarding their registration with the General Syndicate of Dentists, delaying their assignment by the Ministry of Health and Population. The reason behind this is linked to the decision made by the General Assembly of the Syndicate in April of last year, which mandated their registration by paying a financial amount in dollars similar to foreign nationals.
• On December 20, the General Syndicate announced that a directive had been issued by the Egyptian Public Prosecutor to all public prosecution offices to activate Article 53 of the Syndicate Law. This article requires the presence of a syndicate member and the legal consultant of the syndicate in the investigative session with any doctor summoned in professional cases.

 

• The Farmers Syndicate:
• On December 20, the General Assembly of the General Farmers’ Syndicate held a meeting in South Sinai, with the presence of the head of the farmers’ syndicate and the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture in South Sinai. The head of the farmers’ syndicate stated that the syndicate supports all farmers nationwide in general, and farmers in South and North Sinai in particular, with the aim of developing and supporting agriculture on Sinai’s fertile land.

 

• The Syndicate of Visual Artists
•  On December 24, the Public Prosecutor referred the designer Ghada Wali to the Economic Court, accusing her of infringing on the intellectual property rights of the Russian artist Georgy Kurasov. The court has scheduled a session for January 8 to consider the case.

 

Labor Unions:

 

• The General Syndicate of Workers in Tourism and Hotels”
• On December 26, Starbucks Egypt began, during the previous few days, to lay off a number of its employees working in its branches spread across Egypt due to the impacts of the recent boycott campaign against it. This was caused by a significant decline in its sales volume as a result of the boycott and its stance on the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in Palestine.

 

• The General Syndicate of Workers in Public Utilities
• Some employees at Care Service Company in the peacekeeping forces camp staged a sit-in and went on strike within their workplace to protest against the deterioration of their living conditions, low wages, and inadequate services within the camp. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the low monthly salaries, stating that the last salary increase they received was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The striking workers decided to go on strike after a meeting with the camp’s peacekeeping forces commander, where he pledged to resolve their crisis and meet their demands gradually over the next three weeks.

 

• Independent Trade Unions:
• On December 10, 25 independent trade unions launched the Solidarity of Trade Unions Federation (STUF), and elected its executive council. The federation aims to address the challenges facing the working class in Egypt. The founding assembly elected the executive council of the federation, which consists of 13 members from the various sectors forming the federation. Additionally, the executive council elected the bureau, comprising 6 members, including the president, the general secretary, the treasurer, the vice president, the assistant general secretary, and the assistant treasurer.

 

Section Three: Civil Society and Human Rights:

 

First: The most important activities, publications, and initiatives of human rights institutions:

 

• The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR):

The council persisted in its promotional endeavors to uphold human rights values, but there was a notable deviation from sincere endeavors aimed at earning respect for human rights. Some of its activities included:

• Participation in the celebration of the International Children’s Day organized by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood under the slogan “Our Dream, Our Right… The Voice of the Child.” This collaboration involved the Egyptian Council of Tribes and Families in Sinai, the Coordination of Youth Parties and Politicians, the United Media Services Company, and UNICEF Egypt.
• Monitoring the 2024 presidential elections and encouraging citizens to vote and exercise their civil and political rights.
• On December 18, council members sent a congratulatory telegram to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the occasion of his re-election and victory in the 2024 presidential elections.
• On December 20, Ambassador Moshira Khattab, the council’s president, signed a cooperation protocol with the New Mansoura University, led by Dr. Moawad Mohamed El-Khouly, at the university’s headquarters. This collaboration is part of the council’s action plan in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy in Egypt, under the project “Supporting Efforts to Enhance Political Participation and Democratic Mechanisms in Egypt.”
• On the same date, the council held consultative sessions for Egyptian judges on human rights in the judicial system, in implementation of the protocol signed between the National Council for Human Rights and the Ministry of Justice.

• The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)

• • On December 4, the organization issued a statement condemning the decisions of the Supreme State Security Prosecution to continue the pretrial detention of 14 female and male applicants for the 30,000 teachers’ competition.

• On December 10, the organization published an infographic detailing the death sentences issued by Egyptian courts during November 2023.
• The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms:
• • On December 2, the commission launched its publication on press and media violations and the conditions of workers in the journalism field.
  • On December 15, the commission released a report titled “After the End of the Electoral Race… the ‘Popular Mandates’ Case.” The report shed light on the trial of former parliamentarian Ahmed Tantawi and several members of his presidential campaign for “exercising constitutional rights.”
  • On December 18, the commission initiated a memorandum to gather signatures directed to the Public Prosecutor, urging the release of Yemeni refugee Abdel Baqi Saeed after two years of preventive detention, surpassing the legal duration, in the context of the International Migrants Day.

• The Egyptian Front for Human Rights:

• • On December 7, the organization released a guide titled “Guide for Workers on Documenting Violations in Trials and Litigation in the Egyptian Judicial System.” The guide aims to provide a work plan and guiding principles for monitoring and evaluating the fairness and justice of trials in Egypt, especially those with criminal and political backgrounds. It addresses each case individually based on traceable indicators.

• On December 18, the organization published its preliminary results of monitoring the voting process over three days (December 10, 11, and 12) for the election of the President of the Republic for a new six-year term (2024-2030). This monitoring covered several aspects, including the nature of the candidates, the political bloc supporting each candidate, electoral committees, legal voting timelines, and the form of international and media oversight.

• The Egyptian Network for Human Rights 

• • On December 11, in the context of Human Rights Day, the network issued a report documenting and monitoring the investigation conducted by the Supreme State Security Prosecution with 2424 citizens, including 50 women and girls, since the beginning of the year.

• On December 23, the network released a statement urging the Egyptian Prisons Authority to grant Mr. Said Suleiman, who is detained pretrial at Badr Rehabilitation and Reformation Center “Badr 1” under Case No. 305 of 2022, State Security jurisdiction, his right to medical treatment. This includes undergoing open-heart surgery in a specialized hospital outside the prison due to his deteriorating health condition and the need for various health procedures and arrangements before, during, and after the delicate surgery.
• Technology and Law Community – Masaar:
• • On December 4, the organization released a paper titled “Progressive Communications: Values, Principles, and Impact” with the aim of providing an introduction to progressive communications. It elucidates the core values and principles of progressive communications and illustrates how they are reflected in these communications, contributing to efforts to achieve them. The document also highlights the significant impact of modern advancements in progressive communications on social movements, governments, and the business world, serving as examples of what progressive communications can accomplish.

• On December 18, the organization published a page on its website containing tools and applications for digital security and privacy. The goal is to offer a comprehensive set of tools designed to safeguard privacy and ensure digital security.

• The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights:

• • On November 26, the center issued a statement expressing solidarity and readiness to provide free legal support for the workers of “Starbucks Egypt” following reports of some of them being laid off. This action was perceived as collective punishment for the popular stance supporting the boycott of Israel supporters.
  • On December 18, the center issued a statement condemning the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ refusal to receive the executive formula for the judgment of the Eighth Circuit of the Administrative Court. The judgment annulled the negative decision to refrain from conducting the necessary maintenance to protect Prince Said Halim Palace, known as “Champollion,” and to remove encroachments and assaults on it, along with the resulting effects. One of the main outcomes would be opening it to the public for tourism and cultural purposes as an Egyptian heritage site. The refusal was based on alleged error in the notice served.
• The New Woman Foundation:
• • On December 14, the foundation held a concluding conference as part of the Legislative Protection Project to combat violence against women, conducted in collaboration with the Diaconia Foundation. The conference was titled “Efforts to combat violence against women… Where are they heading?”

• On December 20th, the Women, Work, and Economic Rights Program of the foundation organized a workshop on economic empowerment and the status of women in the labor market for representatives of several unions and civil society associations in Qena. This workshop was held in partnership with the organization as part of the project ‘Enhancing the Capacities of Unions and Civil Society Associations in Activating the Sustainable Development Agenda from a Gender Perspective.

• On December 21, the foundation issued a statement with a signature campaign aimed at sending it to the Egyptian Parliament. The statement urges and demands the passage of a unified law to combat violence against women in Egypt.
• Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA)
• • On December 24, the Access to Justice Program at the foundation organized an awareness seminar for 30 women at the Maritime Maasara Association for the Development of Local Communities in Maasara, Helwan. The seminar focused on personal status laws, their challenges, and the institution’s proposal for a family law project that is more just.
  • On the same date, the Access to Justice program at the foundation organized an awareness seminar in Alexandria on personal status laws, their challenges, and the foundation’s proposed more just Family Law project.
• Collective human rights activities:
• On December 5th, a number of Egyptian human rights institutions issued a joint statement to condemn the summons by the Cairo Prosecutor’s Office of the journalist and editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, Lina Attalah, in response to a complaint filed by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation.
• On December 17th, several Egyptian human rights organizations released a joint statement to denounce the Egyptian authorities, particularly the Passport and Immigration Authority, for refusing to extend or issue permits for the temporary passage and residence of Gaza residents stranded in Egypt. The statement called on the Egyptian authorities to urgently extend all crossing and residence permits for at least three months, renewable until the cessation of the genocide, or to establish an exceptional residence permit for the families of Gaza residents stranded in Egypt. It also urged the exemption of those affected from regularization procedures and the cessation of any legal consequences, financial fines, or security decisions rejecting the issuance of permits again.
• On December 23rd, a number of Egyptian and international human rights institutions, along with advocates for human rights, issued a joint statement calling on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, to issue arrest warrants for those responsible for genocide and war crimes against the Palestinian people. Including the Israeli president Yitzhak Herzog, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Israeli Minister of War, Yoav Galant.

 

Violations and harassment:

 

• On December 6th, the First Terrorism Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court extended the detention of human rights lawyer Ahmed Nazeer El-Helw for 45 days pending investigations in case No. 1940 of 2022, Supreme State Security.
• On the same date, the same circuit renewed the detention of activist Nermine Hussein for 45 days pending investigations in case No. 65 of 2021, Supreme State Security.
• On December 24th, the Supreme State Security Prosecution extended the detention of human rights lawyer and former member of the National Council for Human Rights, Huda Abdel-Moneim, for 15 days pending investigations in case No. 730 of 2020, Supreme State Security.
• On December 25th, the Third Terrorism Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court extended the detention of activist Muaz El-Sharqawi for 45 days pending investigations in case No. 540 of 2023, Supreme State Security.
• On December 14th, the Emergency State Security Misdemeanor Court postponed the pronouncement of the verdict in the case of engineer Yahya Hussein Abdel-Hadi, charged with spreading false news and statements, to January 18, 2024.
• On December 20th, the Disciplinary Council of the Ministry of Higher Education acquitted Dr. Manar El-Tantawi, the wife of journalist Hisham Jafar, of charges of insulting the Higher Institute of Technology and its dean through social media platforms and some satellite channels. The council also revoked the penalty of deducting 15 days from El-Tantawi’s financial dues.