The law, known as the Law of Associations, Law 84 of 2002, required all non-governmental organizations to register with the government by June 5, 2003. Already the registration of two well established independent human rights organizations - the New Women’s Research Center and the Land Center for Human Rights - have been rejected by the government.

“These denials of permission to register constitute effective closure orders for these organizations,” said Neil Hicks Director of the Lawyers Committee’s Human Rights Defenders Project. “If they continue to operate without permission the staff of these organizations, their members and their boards of directors will be at risk of prosecution and possible imprisonment simply for exercising their right to form an association to promote and protect human rights.”

Human rights organizations are particularly at risk under the new law because their work often involves exposing government involvement in human rights violations, and criticizing government policies. Such activities inevitably result in friction between these organizations and some government officials. Nevertheless, the activities of independent human rights defenders are an essential element of any democratic society. Their work makes it possible for government officials, and others, to be held accountable for their actions that have an impact on human rights conditions.

In a letter sent today to the Minister of Social Affairs, the Lawyers Committee calls on the Egyptian government to reconsider its decision to deny these applications for registration from internationally respected human rights organizations. The government has a legitimate interest in regulating the activities of non-governmental organizations, but that should not give it the power to close organizations of which it disapproves by administrative order.