The world in brief: Egypt releases human rights defenders

CAIRO -- Egypt on Thursday released two human rights defenders, including one who has ties with Italy, their lawyers said, concluding two cases that have drawn significant international criticism and attention. The releases of Patrick George Zaki, an activist and postgraduate student in Italy, and Mohamed el-Baker, a human rights lawyer, came a day after they were pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi along with four other people. Confirmation of the pardons was published in Egypt's Official Gazette. The release of Zaki, whose case was championed by Italy's government,...