Skip to main content

Will new law restrict Egyptian NGOs' activities?

The Egyptian parliament has approved a new law to regulate the activities of civil society organizations and monitor their sources of funding, although some view this as going against the Egyptian Constitution.
An Egyptian policeman stands guard outside the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo on February 25, 2015 during a court session to determine if the House of Representatives parliamentary election law is constitutional. Egypt's Constitutional Court said it will rule on March 1 whether the country's election law is constitutional, a verdict that could alter the schedule of the upcoming parliamentary polls. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI        (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Read in 

CAIRO — The Egyptian parliament announced its final approval for a draft law regulating the activities of civil organizations in Egypt, amid criticism by representatives of civil society and rights organizations. These considered the law to be a new tool in the hands of the government to impose its total control over the works of these organizations and hinder their activities. Such a measure blatantly violates the Egyptian Constitution, according to which all citizens have the right to establish their own associations and to work freely away from the intervention of administrative bodies.

In a controversial and surprising move, the Egyptian House of Representatives announced Nov. 29 that it had consented to the draft law regulating the activities of civil associations and establishments. The bill was presented by member of parliament Abdel-Hadi al-Qasabi, the chairman of the parliament’s Social Solidarity Committee and a member of the Support Egypt Coalition. Qasabi is known for his close ties to the government and for defending President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s policies. The bill has garnered the support of over 200 parliamentarians. For the first time since it was called into session in January, parliament is working to settle a law of this level of importance and with this degree of haste without involving either the government or representatives of civil society.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.