Hours after a Cairo court freed ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi announced a presidential pardon to release more than 200 political prisoners – out of more than 40,000 in jail since 2011. Families and friends were waiting to receive their loved ones outside Tora prison in Cairo.
Egypt Frees Some 200 Political Prisoners, Thousands Still in Jail
- By VOA News
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A woman reacts to the prison administration announcement of the release of 200 prisoners under a presidential pardon. “I miss you so much my son,” she says, Tora prison, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 14, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
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Father of “Mahmoud Hassan” waits for his son’s release. With his hand on his heart, he says “I really don’t know what I’m going to do when I see my son. He is innocent. It’s God’s will.” Hassan spent three years in jail as part of a 15-year prison term. He’s getting released under a presidential pardon, Tora prison, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 14, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
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Yasser Awad in blue is seen crying with his father after getting released from Tora prison under a presidential pardon. “I still have three other brothers in jail,” he said in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 14, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
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Abdulrahman Salem poses for a group picture with his family members outside Tora prison south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 14, 2017. He was released with some 200 political prisoners under a presidential pardon. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
