Egypt to release 2 Indian prisoners

In a goodwill gesture, Egypt has decided to release two Indians, languishing in jails in the African country for 16 and 22 years, under the transfer of sentenced persons agreement between the two countries. This was conveyed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their talks on Thursday, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

India had requested Egypt in December, 2014 to release the two Indians as per provisions of the sentenced persons pact.

“Sisi in a goodwill gesture, agreed to the release of two long-term Indian prisoners in Egypt who had been in jail for 16 and 22 years. They will be extradited to India under the transfer of sentenced persons agreement,” Mr Swarup said. He said there were certain charges against the two Indians as they served long prison terms and that New Delhi never questioned the judicial process. He said the two Indians are being sent back as per modalities of the sentenced prisoners agreement.

During the talks, Mr Modi also thanked Mr Sisi for attending the summit, asserting that without Egypt the summit would have been “incomplete” as the two leaders agreed to take the bilateral ties to a “much higher and broader level.”