Amnesty International UK has launched a fresh condemnation of a law affecting NGOs currently awaiting final approval with Egypt’s Shura Council, labelling it as ‘draconian’ and warning that it could prevent international charities from carrying out work in the country.
The law affecting both internal and external NGOs would require any charity seeking to register in the country to seek prior approval from the Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs which could raise objections. Amnesty says that this form of prior authorisation is “inconsistent with international standards”.
“Passing a law such as this one in a country with a long history of cracking down on the work of human rights organisations would be incredibly dangerous,” said the charity’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director, Hassiba Sahraoui.
“If Egypt is serious about moving forward from its recent past, the authorities must turn away from this law and instead enable an environment for NGOs to ensure human rights are protected and promoted,” he continued.
In past administrations, such as during the reign of Hosni Mubarak, NGOs were forced to register in a process that could take several years. And in 2011, under military rule, 43 staff members from Egyptian civil society groups were put on trial for operating without official registration, they still await the verdict, which is due on 4 June.
Further aspects of the draft law affecting local NGOs would require authorisation from a newly formed Co-ordinating Committee for actions such as seeking foreign funding. Amnesty warns that the committee is “likely to include representatives of security and intelligence agencies” and that hefty fines and potential prison sentences could be imposed if organisations are found in breach of the new law.
The law also includes an article insisting that charities provide annual accounts, programme reports and funding information annually to the Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs, which could object to these details and take the organisation to court.
Amnesty, which currently has no presence in Egypt, makes its statement as the law is close to passing, having received preliminary approval from the Shura Council, the Upper House of Egypt's bicameral Parliament. It now awaits final approval. But the charity has campaigned with other international charities on the matter before. The Bill has also been condemned by the UN. In March a panel of UN human rights experts urged the Shura Council not to adopt the law, saying: “It is highly regrettable that a government that was formed as a response to peaceful social activism can place such restrictions on people’s right to freedom of association.”
