A draft law recently introduced for review by the Egyptian government aims to regulate nongovernmental organizations by giving the government veto power over all activities of those associations, thereby threatening their independence, states a report released by Human Rights Watch Monday.
“This law is not about regulating nongovernmental organizations – it's about throttling them and robbing them of their independence. …These provisions would extinguish a crucial element of democracy in Egypt,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division.
The proposed law would also require all international organizations to obtain permission from the Egyptian government before carrying out any activities in Egypt.
“This draft law leaves only the narrowest space for international groups to work in Egypt, and then only according to the whims of the government and security agencies. … It is legitimate for governments, including Egypt’s, to require all associations to operate transparently, but the purpose of that requirement should not be to prohibit the legitimate work of independent organizations,” Stork added.
Under the new law, all nongovernmental organizations in Egypt would have to re-register as “associations,” and the government would be able to reject applications at any time. The proposed law would prohibit all “associations” from engaging in political activities, and doing so would be punishable by at least one year of imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($13,985).
Under Article 16 of the draft law, so-called Egyptian associations would not be able to join any international associations or entities, or cooperate with them, without government approval.
In a joint statement, 29 independent Egyptian groups described the law as “a flagrant breach of the constitution and Egypt’s international obligations.”
Associations would have to provide annual reports to the government disclosing all financial activities. Egyptian authorities would be able to order an association to halt activities and revoke any decision. Failure to comply may be punished as a criminal offense.
The draft “Law on Associations” was presented by Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity on June 26, 2014. The draft law is to be introduced to the country’s next parliament when it is elected in less than four months. However, given the president’s powers to legislate in the absence of the parliament, the controversial law could be approved even earlier.
