Civil society under threat in Egypt
Parliament approves law that dismantles work of NGOs
A law that dismantles the work of civil society organizations and violates the right to freedom of association was approved in November by the Egyptian Parliament. The law effectively prevents human rights NGOs from registering and working in Egypt in several ways, by setting vaguely-worded limitations on their permitted activities. In response to this, more than 60 organizations from around the world – including Conectas – have signed a statement calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to take a position on the bill and asking Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to not sign it into law.
The text presented by the government requires domestic organizations to register by paying 10,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately 565 U.S. dollars or 1,940 Brazilian reais) and foreign organizations to pay up to 300,000 Egyptian pounds (17,000 U.S. dollars or 58,000 Brazilian reais). Furthermore, they would be forbidden from advocating against the implementation of any law or from carrying out “political activities or any other activities that threaten national security, public order, public morals or public health”.
Also problematic is that the law makes individuals managing NGOs criminally responsible for a range of administrative infractions. Cooperating with any international body – even the United Nations – without government approval, for example, is punishable by 5 years’ imprisonment and heavy fines.
“The text gives the authorities the power to intervene in numerous aspects of the work and administration of NGOs: they may oppose internal resolutions or nominations to NGO boards of directors, the moving of their premises or the opening of new offices,” reads the statement sent to the UN.
The Egyptian authorities had already taken severe steps to repress Egyptian civil society organizations before this. Four respected human rights organizations and six prominent directors and board members of NGOs have had their assets frozen and at least 15 Egyptian human rights defenders have been prevented from travelling since December 2014.
- Click here to read the statement in full.
