Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

In a recent post I discussed problems surrounding the new law on NGOs in Egypt. In case there was any doubt on the need for a new and IMPROVED legal regime, see here what Front Line Defenders reported yesterday, 5 June:

43 NGO staff members were condemned to prison terms ranging from 1 to 5 years on foot of charges of “using foreign funding to foment unrest.” The defendants were employed by 4 United States and 1 German organisation. Five of the defendants were sentenced to 2 years in prison, eleven were sentenced to 1 year suspended and a further 27 were tried in absentia and sentenced to 5 years in prison.  Additionally, the trial judge ordered the closure of the offices of all five organisations and the confiscation of their assets. “The trial of these 43 defendants and the ongoing investigations into the activities of dozens of other organisations is a clear attempt by the Government of President Morsi to restrict the legitimate work of human rights defenders and NGOs and to stifle dissent” said Front Line Defenders Deputy Director, Andrew Anderson.

The prosecution was based legislation from the repressive legal framework of the Mubarak era including the Law on Associations and penal code provisions on association. Under this system NGOs have to apply for registration, a process which can drag on for many years. All four organisations had applied for registration prior to the raids on their offices and the law states that if they do not get a response inside 60 days then registration is considered granted. The workers were charged under article 98(c)(1) of Egypt’s penal code, which states: “Anyone who creates or establishes or manages an association or organisation or institution of any kind of an international character or a branch of an international organisation without a license in the Egyptian Republic shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of not more than 6 months or with a fine of 500 EGP [US$82].” The defendants were charged with operating unlawfully and with receiving foreign funds without permission.

Related articles

• Egyptian NGO bill with big shortcomings in crucial last phase (thoolen.wordpress.com)
• Egypt court convicts NGO employees (bbc.co.uk)

This entry was posted on June 6, 2013 at 11:25 and is filed under human rights, Human Rights Defenders.

Tags: civil society organizations, closure, Defendant, draft law, Egypt, foreign funding, freedom of association, Front Line Defenders, Germany, jail, Law, law on NGOs, legal regime, Mohamed Morsi, Mubarak era, ngo staff, NGOs, ngos in egypt, Non-governmental organization, regulation, United States