Moqbel Shaker was appointed on Monday as the new vice president of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), replacing Ahmed Abul Magd. Shura Council Speaker Safwat el-Sherif, who appointed Moqbel, said the NCHR had carried out its mission independently and objectively during the last session. According to el-Sherif, the NCHR had exercised its powers as an independent institution that handles human rights issues and recommends solutions to ministries and government institutions according to established legal standards,international treaties on human rights, and the Egyptian Constitution. El-Sherif also mentioned that several ministries and state institutions had cooperated with the NCHR, responding positively to its recommendations. As part of the NCHR shake-up, six other members were replaced: Samia el-Motayyam, Fahmi Nashed, Galal Aref, Gamal Shuman, Sameh Ashour, and Suleiman Abdel Monem. Salah Amer, who recently died, has not yet been replaced. In addition to Shaker, the new formation brought in MP Ebtisam Habib, Assistant Minister of Justice Eskandar Ghattas, former Attorney General Ragaa el-Arabi, Consultant to the Cabinet of Ministers Adel Abdel Baqi, lawyer for President Mubarak Anwar Raslan, Gaber Rihan, President of the Lawyers Syndicate Hamdi Khalifa, and President of the Journalists Syndicate Makram Mohamed Ahmed. Abul Magd, the former vice president, was reportedly asked to stay on at the NCHR but as a member rather than vice president. Abul Magd, however, denied being asked to stay, saying he was going to continue fighting for human rights in Egypt and the Arab world. In response to a question about whether his exclusion from the NCHR was the result of his continuous criticism of the governmentand the status of human rights, Abul Magd replied that it was an ethical and national duty to criticize weaknesses in these fields. Abul Magd added that he was happy with the new configuration, especially the inclusion of Gaber Rihan and Makram Mohamed Ahmed, saying the new team would shape the NHCR's performance in the upcoming period. Mufid Shehab, minister of state for legal affairs and parliamentary councils, said the government is paying attention to human rights and taking major steps to enhance the situation of human rights in Egypt. Shehab said the NCHR was playing its role in establishing a human rights culture, and that the government was supporting it in its activities. The NHRC is composed of a president, vice president, and 25 other public figures known for their interest human rights or who have made significant contributions in the field. Members stay in office for three years. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
