Law Amendment Passed to Expand Felony Convicts' Appeal Opportunities

Egypt's House of Representatives passed a law amendment that expands the appeal process for felony convicts. This development grants individuals convicted of serious crimes additional opportunities to challenge their rulings before a final verdict is issued.

Under the amended provisions, convicted individuals will now have the right to an extra appellate trial before their appeal reaches the Court of Cassation, whose decisions are considered binding and non-appealable. This safeguard also extends to individuals convicted in absentia for felonies, who will be granted a retrial before the criminal court upon surrendering or being apprehended by law enforcement agencies.

“Previously, the accused faced a precarious situation during the issuance of the ruling, as they were only tried once before being directed to the Court of Cassation directly,” cassation attorney Gaber Agha told Shorouk News.

By introducing additional layers of litigation, the law provides defense lawyers with an opportunity to present overlooked arguments and evidence during the appeal process.