Egypt’s top court has denied the country’s social solidarity minister the authority to dismiss NGO boards, stating that the move would be unconstitutional, according to Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.
According to Article 42 of the 2002 Law on Associations and NGOs, Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity has the right to dissolve NGOs and dismiss their directors without a judicial verdict or prior consultation.
However, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled yesterday that as Article 75 of the constitution guarantees freedom of citizens to form civil associations and institutions, according the minister such a power would be an infringement of their democratic rights.
The court also stated that the constitution also prohibits administrative bodies from interfering in NGO affairs, and reiterated that only a judicial ruling that proved malpractice would be an acceptable reason to dissolve an organisation.
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Egypt has witnessed an immense crackdown on freedom of speech and an increase in regulatory legislation since the ousting of democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, justified by the government as necessary in preventing dissent.
Egypt has passed a number of controversial laws since Morsi was ousted in 2013, including a law aimed at regulating the work of non-governmental organisations. The bill was harshly criticised by human rights organisations who argued it imposed draconian sanctions on those that ventured to provide services outside of the developmental needs identified by the Egyptian government.
The press community has also been awaiting the issuance of a Unified Media Law, as drafted by several media professionals, which was to encompass media ethics and press freedom. However, parliament has bypassed this law in favour of another that would establish numerous regulatory bodies for media and press affairs, and would grant President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi the right to appoint the heads of such bodies.
The arrest and enforced disappearances of journalists and humanitarian activists is also widespread in the country. Amnesty International noted in the annual World Report earlier this year that the Egyptian government blocked at least 434 websites since last May, and arrested at least 240 political activists between April and September for online posts that were considered “insulting” to Al-Sisi.