MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) — Transparency International has denounced the Egyptian government’s intention to restrict civil society activities as the deadline for NGOs to register under a controversial law expires Monday.
“Civil society must be allowed to flourish rather than be restricted as it goes about its important work as a voice for accountability, particularly at a time of instability” Transparency International Chair Jose Ugaz said in a press release issued on Sunday.
“This regressive move runs counter to the public commitment made by President [Abdel Fattah] el-Sisi in creating an enabling environment for civil society’s participation in monitoring and holding public officials to account,” Ugaz added.
The 2002 NGO Law on Associations requires that civil society organizations, operating in Egypt, register under it. In case organizations do not register, the Egyptian government retains the power, granted by the very law, to ban overseas funding as well as freeze assets and stop the operations of these organization.
Through the press release, Transparency called on the authorities in Egypt to remove the deadline and respect the freedom of association.
