The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) and the undersigned civil society organizations denounce the ferocious attack against many human rights and development NGOs in order to deter these bodies from implementing their cultural and human rights’ defense efforts. The headquarters of the Arab Center for Judiciary Independence was stormed on December 29, 2011 by security and military troops and South Cairo Prosecutor General. The troops confiscated all the accounting and foreign relation documents, related to the center’s projects and activities in addition to 7 computers. The headquarters was cordoned off; the staff members were banned from leaving the office.

Middle East News Agency stated that the attack subjected 17 civil society organizations, until the moment of issuing this statement. Seven society organizations were stormed including the American International Democratic Institute, National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute and Freedom House in addition to Conrad Adenauer, Arab Center for Judiciary Independence and Budgetary and Human Rights Observatory. Helmi Al Rawi, the head of Arab Center for Judiciary Independence and Budgetary and Human Rights Observatory emphasized that Ahmed Ali, senior researcher, was arrested after closing the headquarters.

Mr. Naser Amin, the head of the Arab Center for Judiciary Independence, member of the National Council for Human Rights stated that the attack comes in the framework of the ongoing investigations implemented by a fact finding committee and a judge assigned to question the civil society organizations. He also emphasized that the prosecutor general mission insisted to review all the official documents of the center and the staff members.

The undersigned civil society organizations express sorrow for the violent attack against the civil society organizations that aim mainly to spread the culture of human rights, the rule of law and democracy in addition to defending all the Egyptian citizens against any human rights’ violations. Such attack is against the international standards of human rights.

The undersigned civil society organizations call the Supreme Council for Armed Forces to stop the violent attack against the local and civil society organizations and to apply the appropriate legal procedures of investigation and inspection in order to avoid spreading rumors against respected bodies doing nothing but serving Egypt and the Egyptian citizens. EOHR also calls for modifying the Egyptian legislations that restrict the civil society organization. The new legislations are supposed to enable the civil society organizations to protect and defend the human rights and freedoms.

The civil society organizations that signed the statement include:

- The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

- The Arab Center for Judiciary Independence

- Andalus Center for Anti-Violence Studies

- Huriti Radio

- The Arab Organization for Criminal Law Reform

- Prisoner Support Association

- The Egyptian Center for Economic Rights

- The professional Service Center

- The Egyptian Center for Housing Right

- Mohsen Bahnasi, Lawyer, human rights’ and political activist

- Tarek Zaghloul, Lawyer, human rights’ and political activist

- Ahmed Fawky, Lawyer, human rights’ and political activist

- Hisham Mubarak Law Center

- One World Foundation

- New Woman Foundation

- Nazra Center for Women’s Studies