Source: Amnesty International –
Egyptian authorities should amend the associations law to lift tight restrictions over independent civil society organizations, hindering the right to freedom of association and other rights and putting the future of the country’s civic space at risk, Amnesty International said in a new briefing published today.
The briefing, ‘Whatever security says must be done’: Independent NGOs’ freedom of association restricted in Egypt, details how the authorities are imposing undue restrictions and interfering in the work of independent NGOs through the repressive law No. 149 of 2019 (the associations law) and other tactics to bring them under near total state control.
Whilst the closure of Case 173 last year after 13 years of unfounded criminal investigations of the funding and activities of NGOs appeared to be a potential turning point, the associations law grants the authorities a stranglehold over independent NGOs undermining their right to freedom of association.
“Although the lifting of decade-long travel bans and asset freezes against NGO workers was a positive step, the authorities have not only ignored calls to amend the restrictive 2019 associations law but have used it to impose burdensome regulatory requirements on NGOs, while allowing security agencies to subject them to intrusive interference, and constant surveillance. These intimidation practices suffocate vital NGO work and contribute to a chilling climate of intimidation that erodes people’s capacity to organize and exercise their human rights,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
The Egyptian authorities must amend the associations law to allow NGOs to register by notification instead of prior authorization, protect NGOs from NSA’s interference, intimidation and coercive practices against NGOs, and lift all undue restrictions on NGOs’ access to and use of funding.
Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for MENA
“Under international human rights law, any restrictions on NGOs must be narrowly defined, strictly necessary to achieve a legitimate aim, proportionate and never a tool to silence critics. The Egyptian authorities must amend the associations law to allow NGOs to register by notification instead of prior authorization, protect NGOs from NSA’s interference, intimidation and coercive practices against NGOs, and lift all undue restrictions on NGOs’ access to and use of funding.”
The Associations and Civil Work Unit (ACWU) of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, which is responsible for registering and overseeing NGOs imposes a prior authorization process for NGO registration in contravention of international standards and Egypt’s own constitution which stipulates that NGOs should acquire legal personality upon notification. Through the ACWU, the state can refuse or delay registration of NGOs, dictate limitations on their work, block their funding, interfere in the composition of their boards, and even order the dismissal of their members. This stranglehold is reinforced by unlawful interference from the National Security Agency (NSA), which harasses and intimidates members of NGOs through phone calls, unlawful summons and coercive questioning.
The briefing draws on interviews with 19 individuals representing 12 independent Egyptian NGOs working in social development, media and human rights in Greater Cairo over the past five years. Amnesty International conducted the interviews between March and July 2025 and reviewed official documents issued by the administrative bodies overseeing NGOs.