Egypt to Dissolve Human Rights Organization

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – On September 4, Cairo governor `Abd al-`Azzem Wazeer issued a decree closing the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid (AHRLA). AHRLA is one of the country’s leading human rights organizations, and it reports on human rights violations and provides legal assistance to torture victims.

Even though Egypt is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Egyptian government has shown increasing tendency to abuse state powers to police and stifle the work of civil society organizations. Earlier in April, the government also closed Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS), which offered legal aid to Egyptian factory workers and reported on labor-rights issues.

AHRLA has appealed the decree to the Administrative Court, and a hearing will be held on October 21.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Reverse decree closing human rights organization – 18 September 2007

Reuters – Egypt to close rights group aiding torture victims – 13 September 2007

Author: Impunity Watch Archive