NGOs

Ongoing violations against NGOs in Egypt - Is there a way out?

Mostafa Shaat — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:29:43 -0500

For the past year and a half, Egypt’s NGOs have been targeted through a systematic chain of repressive violations, culminating in an orchestrated smear campaign led by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) and its interim cabinets. During this transitional period, the prospects of civil society and human rights advocacy in Egypt faced several endangering threats. The current government is now faced with archaic laws that are in need of change if civil society is to thrive going forward.

Egypt's Transition in Danger of Regression

Ahmed Morsy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:51:23 -0500

The word “transition” implies both an origin and a destination, yet Egypt’s transitional period is still circling around a dead-end. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has proven incompetent in leading the interim period, except in matters affecting the military.

Top News: Egypt Denies Permits to 8 American NGOs including Carter Center

Mara Revkin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:26:22 -0500

The Ministry of Social Affairs denied the requests of eight American NGOs seeking permission to operate in Egypt. One of the NGOs is the Carter Center, which was seeking to deploy observers to monitor the presidential election.

Out of the Headlines and Under the Radar, Noose Tightens around Egyptian Civil Society

Mara Revkin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:42:42 -0500

With the political pageantry of the upcoming presidential election dominating the headlines this week, a legal campaign targeting Egyptian civil society groups is doing further damage under the radar.

Top News: Court Suspends Constituent Assembly Over Constitutional Challenge

Mara Revkin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:06:16 -0500

The High Administrative Court suspended the constituent assembly on April 10 after ruling in favor of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the assembly’s formation.

Top News: Fayza Aboul Naga: Egypt Can Do Without US Aid

Mara Revkin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:02:13 -0500

International Cooperation Minister Fayza Aboul Naga told the People’s Assembly Foreign Relations Committee that foreign embassies had been financing organizations and individuals to carry out unlawful activities in Egypt and offering "cash" directly "from hand to hand.” Naga also stated that Egypt can do without U.S economic assistance, although she did not comment on the $1.3 billion military aid budget.

Top News: Parliament Calls for Vote to End Military Aid

Mara Revkin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:03:40 -0500

On March 11, the People’s Assembly called for a vote to end U.S. military aid to Egypt, with MPs complaining that the U.S has no respect for Egypt’s sovereignty. However, even if parliament votes reject U.S. aid, the move could turn out to be a primarily symbolic gesture, given the SCAF’s monopoly over executive powers.

Egypt’s NGO Crisis: Political Theater Preventing Democratic Progress

Ahmed Morsy — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:41:00 -0600

Hopes were high that the second session of the NGO trial, held on March 8, would yield a resolution to the worst crisis in US-Egypt relations since the 1967 war.