Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi, Minister of Parliamentary, Legal Affairs and Political Communication, stated that Article 105, objected to by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in the Criminal Procedures Law, is among eight articles that will top the agenda of discussions in the third parliamentary session starting October 1.

He pointed out during the program “Al-Hekaya” with journalist Amr Adib, broadcast on MBC Masr, that the article concerns the presence of lawyers during investigations, clarifying that the draft law insists on the lawyer’s presence with the accused and not separating them.

He emphasized the need to wait until reviewing the President’s message regarding the contested articles during the parliamentary session scheduled for October 1.

In response to Amr Adib’s question, “Will pretrial detention periods be reduced again, especially since we all know it was an inhumane way to deal with defendants?”

He said: “If we reduce the pretrial detention period again, which is not currently proposed, it will not prevent the scenario you mention; but the solution is a more reassuring procedure, such as periodically presenting the detention issue to the Public Prosecutor,” explaining that all deputy public prosecutors work according to his instructions.

He referred to the frequent discussions about pretrial detention, whether inside the parliament or the national dialogue, confirming that the renewal of pretrial detention ultimately depends on judicial discretion, whether by the Public Prosecution or the investigating judge.

Responding to “some complaints” raised by Amr Adib, as he described, that the national dialogue’s recommendations on pretrial detention were not adopted, he said: “I am part of the national dialogue, and the agreed recommendations in the national dialogue were applied in the draft Criminal Procedures Law.”

He stressed the need to differentiate between “the many opinions expressed” and “the recommendations that gained consensus,” confirming that the agreed recommendations were implemented.

The articles objected to by the President aim to achieve more guarantees for the sanctity of the home and the rights of the accused before investigation and trial authorities, increase alternatives to pretrial detention to limit its use, remove any ambiguity in wording that leads to multiple interpretations or problems during practical application, and allow sufficient time for ministries and concerned bodies to implement the new mechanisms and models in the draft law.