Egyptian authorities are being urged to amend the restrictive 2019 associations law to lift tight controls over independent civil society organizations (NGOs), which are severely undermining the right to freedom of association and threatening the country’s civic space, Amnesty International stated in a new briefing. The report, “Whatever security says must be done”: Independent NGOs’ freedom of association restricted in Egypt, highlights how the government imposes undue restrictions and interferes with NGOs’ work through the associations law and other tactics to exert near-total state control.
While the closure of Case 173 after 13 years of unfounded criminal investigations against NGOs was seen as a potential turning point, the associations law continues to give authorities a stranglehold over independent organizations. Despite the lifting of travel bans and asset freezes on NGO workers, the government has failed to amend the law and continues to impose burdensome regulatory requirements, intrusive surveillance, and intimidation practices that stifle NGO work and create a chilling climate that prevents citizens from exercising their rights.
Under international human rights law, restrictions on NGOs must be narrowly defined, proportionate, and never used to silence critics. Amnesty International calls on Egypt to allow NGOs to register by notification rather than prior authorization, protect them from interference by the National Security Agency (NSA), and lift undue restrictions on funding access and use.
The Associations and Civil Work Unit (ACWU) of the Ministry of Social Solidarity oversees NGO registration and imposes a prior authorization system that contravenes both international standards and Egypt’s constitution. Through the ACWU, authorities can refuse or delay registration, dictate organizational limitations, block funding, interfere with board composition, and order staff dismissals. NSA involvement exacerbates the situation with harassment, threats, and coercive questioning, creating a climate of fear that obstructs NGOs’ ability to operate.
The 2019 associations law grants the government sweeping powers to control and punish NGOs, including rejecting registrations, dissolving organizations, prosecuting staff on vague charges, and limiting NGO work to “societal development,” effectively barring human rights and political activities. Authorities can enter NGO premises without notice, inspect documents, and impose penalties for perceived breaches. Additionally, a 2014 Penal Code amendment allows prosecution for receiving foreign funds under broadly defined charges, with penalties including life imprisonment or death.
All NGOs, including those already registered, are required to comply with the law or risk dissolution. Some NGOs have registered to gain protection from harassment or maintain funding eligibility, while others avoid registration fearing legal restrictions on their activities. International human rights law emphasizes that associations should never be forced to register under a specific framework or criminalized for lacking formal status, and that both registered and unregistered groups must have the freedom to operate.
Registered NGOs are subject to NSA interference, with staff intimidated through phone calls, summons, and questioning about foreign funding. The NSA also monitors events, sometimes requiring prior approval of audiovisual materials, which creates a chilling effect given its history of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and torture.
Financial restrictions further impede NGOs’ operations. Organizations cannot open or activate bank accounts without ACWU authorization, and some banks delay accounts until receiving separate security clearance, which can take three to fifteen months. Additionally, NGOs must obtain prior approval for foreign funding, and the ACWU can block funding within 60 days without clear grounds. Receiving funds without approval risks suspension or dissolution and exposes staff to financial penalties, severely limiting the capacity of NGOs to function effectively.
