Press release
Cairo:10/6/2003

 WHAT DID WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN?

The Assassination of Civil Society Associations under the NGOs Law (84/2002)

 Two Egyptian Human Rights Organizations Refused Registration

for Security Reasons 

Both the Land Center for Human Rights and the New Women’s Research Center received responses from the Ministry of Social Affairs informing them that the Ministry had received a letter from state security officials rejecting the registration applications of the above-mentioned institutions for security reasons.  The Ministry of Social Affairs adopted the state security decision after the two organizations presented their documents for registration as required by the NGOs Law (84/2002).  In this regard, EOHR is deeply concerned about these decisions as the NGOs Law – though detailing a number of grounds under which an applicant organization might be refused registration – did not include as a suitable ground for rejection decisions made by state security bodies.  

The above-mentioned refusal exceeds the legal and bureaucratic obstacles already imposed by the NGOs Law; indeed, the government’s decision is grounded not in legally established restrictions but in the decisions of state security officials.  What is even more alarming is the unabashed attitude with which the Egyptian government made the announcement.  EOHR considers this decision a dangerous development in the relationship between the state and civil society as state security bodies are not – and should never be – the appropriate institutions for determining the future of civil society in Egypt.  Moreover, EOHR considers this as an affront to all international and constitutional standards and conventions, and views it as wholly contrary to demands by Egyptian civil society actors for a reinforcement of the rule of law and human rights, and the removal of all obstacles that inhibit human development in Egypt.  

EOHR strongly condemns this decision and considers it to be irrational in nature.  At the same time, it calls upon the Egyptian authorities to respond to the call for democracy and the rule of law.  Finally, EOHR warns against the dangers of a security institution abrogating the constitutional rights of the Egyptian people.  It calls upon all defenders of democracy and public freedom to work in solidarity with civil society institutions in their struggle against any practices that constitute a threat to international and constitutional norms with which the Egyptian government is legally required to conform.