Criticism over a non-governmental organisation (NGO) draft law, which received preliminary approval from parliament, continues as new claims surface over what would be heavy restrictions on the work of civil society if the law were to be implemented. Former minister of social solidarity Ahmed El-Borai argued that the law would kill a civil society that hardly functions as it is and already has heavy restrictions on their work. The Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) issued a paper Tuesday explaining why it rejects the draft law. According to AFTE, the law puts NGOs under its control and disables their independence. “The law reflects a misunderstanding of the importance of civil society,” said AFTE, adding that the new draft “is more restrictive than the existing law, as it places NGOs under a governmental authority of which members are from security institutions”.

Source: Daily News Egypt November 23, 2016 13:06 UTC