JURIST - Paper Chase: Egypt president announces general pardon for crimes committed during revolution

[JURIST] Egypt President Mohammed Morsi [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] announced on Tuesday a general pardon [SIS report] issued in August for most people detained or convicted for crimes committed during and in support of the Egyptian Revolution [JURIST backgrounder]. The pardon applies to all citizens who were arrested between January 25, 2011 and June 30, 2012. It does not apply to those convicted or awaiting trial for premeditated murder. A full list of those pardoned will be provided within the next month. This pardon does not provide relief for former government officials held or convicted on corruption charges

There have been several controversial trials since the end of the revolution. At the end of September Egyptian Defence Minister General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ordered a reduced sentence [JURIST report] for a group of military officers who took part in opposition protests in April 2011. There were 22 officers, known as the April 8 Officers, arrested for their participation in protests [Egyptian Independent report] in support of the revolution and against SCAF and against retired Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi Soliman. In July Morsi ordered the release [JURIST report] of 572 people convicted in tribunals by the Egyptian military.