2017 law governing NGOs operation in Egypt gets officially reconsidered

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Sun, 04 Nov 2018 - 11:37 GMT

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Sun, 04 Nov 2018 - 11:37 GMT

Speaking at the 2018 edition of the World Youth Forum (FYI) the Egyptian leader promised forming a special committee to discuss the law regarding NGOs in Egypt

Speaking at the 2018 edition of the World Youth Forum (FYI) the Egyptian leader promised forming a special committee to discuss the law regarding NGOs in Egypt

CAIRO - 5 November 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has agreed to form an official committee to discuss the law governing how foreign NGOs should operate in Egypt, as a prelude to a possible amending.


During his participation at the 2nd edition of the World Youth Forum, the Egyptian leader said the law might be amended after several studies and discussions took place regarding articles of the law.


In June 2017, President Sisi signed law no. 70/2017 on NGOs and their operation in Egypt, as an annulment to the previous law no. 84/2002, after being passed by two-thirds majority of the Parliament in Nov. 2016.


The government had been working for years on a new law regulating NGOs in a bid to preserve the country’s security by monitoring NGOs, their activities and the funding they receive.


Provisions obliging NGOs to inform authorities before collecting and spending donations will bog them down and stifle their work, NGO workers say.


Under the new law, donations exceeding 10,000 Egyptian pounds must be pre-approved, while failure to inform authorities could result in jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to 1 million pounds.


The law also gives the government power over deciding who can establish an NGO and for what purpose. It obliges groups to stick to the “state’s development plan”.


The law also bans domestic and foreign groups from engaging in political activities or anything that harms national security, public order, public morals or public health.


The new law was drafted by Abdel Hady Al-Kasby, the head of the parliament’s Social Solidarity Committee.


Members of the Parliament endorsed the draft law. They argue that the law encourages NGOs operating in Egypt to raise the awareness of Egyptian citizens about social problems and to promote the constitutional principles of justice and equality.


The spokesperson for the People’s Assembly stressed that the draft law imposes sanctions on NGOs that spread chaos, disturb social order, and harm national security.


According to the head of the legislature’s Social Solidarity Committee, the draft law restricts NGOs from receiving foreign funding to work on domestic projects.


The law also limits the work of international organizations as it stipulates that foreign NGOs interested in operating in Egypt must obtain advance approval from a new government body, called the National NGO Apparatus, before beginning operations.


The law also requires NGOs not to use donated money to work on political activities, such as funding parliamentary candidates or political parties, or for inciting hatred, spreading sectarian tension, or damaging national security.


The Law stipulates that foreign NGOs interested in operating in Egypt must obtain advance approval from a new government body, the National Authority for Regulation of Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations, before beginning operations.


Articles of the law, which came into effect on May 25, 2017, stipulated the establishment of a National Authority for the Regulation of Non-Governmental Organizations, including representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Justice, the Interior, International Cooperation, and Social Solidarity, as well as the General Intelligence Services, the Central Bank of Egypt, and the government’s anti-money laundering unit.


A young Egyptian participant asked the President on the sidelines of the WYF about the current NGO law. “The current NGO law requires reconsideration from your constitutional powers Mr. President”, said the young Egyptian participant.


To which Sisi replied, “I agree with you; there were fears that led to the shaping of this law in an unconstitutional way.”


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