"Narrative Summit" Releases 2025 Recommendations to Cement Egypt's Position as a Global Tourism Destination    Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Parliament to begin discussions on NGO law within a few days: MP Atef Makhalif
Criminalising non-transparent foreign funding will be at the forefront of the Human Rights Committee's discussion, says MP
Published in Daily News Egypt on 11 - 10 - 2016

Undersecretary of the parliament's Human Rights Committee Atef Makhalif announced to local media that parliament would discuss an anticipated law for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) during the first week of the second legislative term.
Makhalif told Daily News Egypt that issues regarding foreign funding would be at the forefront of their discussion and that the new law will include articles criminalising non-transparent foreign funding.
The MP explained that the government is not against allowing NGOs the ability to receive foreign funding. "However, there should be transparency," he noted, referring to a number of NGOs currently being accused of receiving illegal funds and serving foreign agendas.
He also noted that enforcement of the law would be immediate and that any NGO that performs tasks other than those announced at beginning of its foundation, without notifying relevant authorities, would be held accountable.
Regarding the discussions on the NGO law, Makhalif said that several bills, including one submitted by the government and one by fellow members of parliament, would be reviewed during the discussion session.
Human rights lawyer and executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) Gamal Eid previously told Daily News Egypt that the new NGO law will be more stringent than previous laws due to the National Security's interference.
While the draft law has not been released to the public, Eid previously said he received a copy from the General Federation of Associations and Civil Institutions, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Social Solidarity.
Negative expectations have circulated concerning the new law among NGO members and opposing groups who believe that it will increase harsher restrictions on NGOs
NGOs have continued to call for the government to denounce the law, and have demanded several amendments be applied, expressing that it imposes restrictions on their work.
In mid-September, the North Cairo Criminal Court froze Eid's assets, along with another four NGO members, including renowned journalist Hossam Bahgat, head of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Bahey El-Din Hassan, Hisham Mubarak Law Centre director Mostafa Al-Hassan, and Egyptian Centre for the Right to Education director Abdel Hafiz Tayel.
The court's decision came after several sessions reviewing the case, as all aforementioned names were accused of receiving illegal foreign funding. In February, an investigative judge submitted a request to freeze the assets of certain NGO members, in addition to requests for travel bans for those connected with the case.
The court's actions sparked anger amongst several political parties, human rights activists, and civil society members who believed that it was an attack against civil society, especially as that the defendants were not formally investigated.
A week prior to the court ruling, the cabinet approved the NGO law at its weekly meeting. The draft law was then referred to the State Council for review, after which it will be sent to parliament for discussion and a vote.


Clic here to read the story from its source.