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Egypt’s National Authority Denies Receiving Any Complaints Affecting Elections

A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)
A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)
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Egypt’s National Authority Denies Receiving Any Complaints Affecting Elections

A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)
A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)

Egypt’s National Elections Authority (NEA) denied receiving any complaints that would affect the electoral process, as the polls closed on the last day of the first phase of parliamentary elections.

Egyptians voted in 14 governorates amid strict health and security measures.

Head of NEA Lashin Ibrahim announced that authorities implemented strict precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling stations.

He said the authority did not receive any complaints that would affect the elections as a whole, stating that the operating room continues to receive inquiries and complaints from all parties and is responding to them promptly.

Meanwhile, head of the Arab League mission tasked with observing the elections, Ahmed Rachid Khattabi, stressed that the process took place smoothly given the legal, organizational and procedural measures taken by the Authority.

He stated that the extensive security, logistic and precautionary measures had a positive impact on the overall electoral performance, allowing voters to cast their votes and carry out their national duty in a safe environment.

The Arab League issued a statement on Sunday praising the good organization of the polls, which reflects a confident political will to consolidate the foundations of the state of institutions and citizenship, the pillars of the rule of law, and rules of free choice.

Khattabi highlighted the 2019 constitutional amendments that allocated no less than 25 percent of parliamentary seats to female candidates.

This is a strong and clear indication of the state's desire to develop the political and electoral arena, which paves the way for a real female representation in the parliament, he added.

The second stage of the vote is scheduled on Nov. 7-8 in the country’s 13 other provinces, including Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula. The voting concludes with runoff elections.

A total of 568 seats in the lower chamber are up for grabs, with more than 4,000 candidates running as individuals competing for half of the seats. The other half of elected seats in the chamber are reserved for the more than 1,100 candidates running on four party lists.

The country's president will name 28 seats, or 5%, bringing the total number of seats in the lower chamber to 596.

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Islamic Jihad Says it Received Assurances Over Arrest of its Leaders in Damascus

Senior Islamic Jihad official in Syria Khaled Khaled. File photo
Senior Islamic Jihad official in Syria Khaled Khaled. File photo
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Islamic Jihad Says it Received Assurances Over Arrest of its Leaders in Damascus

Senior Islamic Jihad official in Syria Khaled Khaled. File photo
Senior Islamic Jihad official in Syria Khaled Khaled. File photo

A senior figure in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad revealed that the group has received “assurances” from Syrian authorities on the recent arrest of two of its senior officials in Damascus.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, the Damascus-based official said: “We believe what happened was a misunderstanding, and we have received assurances that the matter will be resolved. We are keen on Syria’s security and stability.”

The group’s military wing, Saraya al-Quds, which is active in the Palestinian territories, issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that Syrian authorities had detained two of its leaders. They are Khaled Khaled, Islamic Jihad’s top official in Syria, and Abu Ali Yasser, head of the movement’s organizational committee in Syria.

The statement did not specify the reasons for the arrests and called for their release.

Syrian authorities have not issued any official comment or clarification regarding the arrests. Attempts by Asharq Al-Awsat to reach Syria’s General Intelligence Directorate for comment went unsuccessful.

The Islamic Jihad official criticized the manner in which the arrests were carried out, describing them as “abductions from the street” rather than formal summons or notifications.

He said the movement’s offices in Damascus remain open and continue to operate. “In practice, Islamic Jihad’s offices in Syria are solely focused on humanitarian and relief work.”

He also expressed belief that the arrests were unrelated to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent visit to Damascus or to any American demands. Abbas met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa last Friday.

“We have great confidence in the Syrian government’s support for the Palestinian cause, and we believe there is no shift in Syria’s stance toward Palestine,” the official said.

Addressing local media reports and social media rumors suggesting the arrests were linked to alleged collaboration with Iran in planning sabotage operations in Syria, the official dismissed the claims.

“Islamic Jihad’s relationship with Iran is well-known, and all communication takes place at the leadership level and not through individuals,” he said. “There is no direct contact between our rank-and-file members and Iran.”

Despite the turmoil in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Islamic Jihad has maintained its presence in the country. Its offices in Damascus have been targeted multiple times by Israeli airstrikes, most recently on March 13, when an unoccupied house belonging to Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah in the Mezzah-Dummar district was hit.

This is reportedly the first time that Islamic Jihad leaders have been arrested in Syria, a country that once hosted over 13 different Palestinian factions.