Employing a Mubarek era law, 17 pro-democracy and human rights groups (NGOs), including several funded by the US, were subjected to a purported hunt for evidence/documents as part of an ongoing prosecution, but then were also shuttered by the raiding police and prosecutors. The US State Department reacted with harsh criticism exposing a new rift with Washington and greater fear by democracy advocates/protesters in Egypt that the revolution was being further eroded.


Fundamental Step Away from Western Democracies & Freedom?

The U.S. State Department stated that the raids and closures were "inconsistent with the bilateral cooperation we have had over many years," indicating that Washington may review $1.3 billion in primarily military aid. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland "We do have a number of new reporting and transparency requirements on funding to Egypt that we have to make to Congress. The Egyptian government is well aware of that and it certainly needs to be aware of that in the context of how quickly this issue gets resolved."



NGOs targeted include offices of the US based International Republican Institute (IRI), National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Freedom House. Egypt’s official MENA news agency said the groups had been targeted as part of an investigation into foreign funding of such organizations. MENA cited Egypt Prosecutors: "The public prosecutor has searched 17 civil society organizations, local and foreign, as part of the foreign funding case, The search is based on evidence showing violation of Egyptian laws including not having permits." What is not clear is on which grounds though the NGOs were shuttered regardless of evidence searches.


Erosion of Freedom?

US Secretary of State had already been critical of the recent vivid mistreatment of Egyptian women. Read: - “Egypt Change or Stability – “Brutal Suppression” or Elections” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/egypt-change-or-stability-brutal-suppression-or-elections-by-ambassador-mo/43001. This phase adds more distance between Cairo’s new rulers and the US and western European allies, who also expressed dismay/anger at the targeting of the NGOs particularly funded/supported by these allies. Local democracy/human rights activists were also frustrated by what they see as the continuing trend to suffocate freedom in the country. Read: - Arab Women as leaders & Indicators of Change” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/arab-women-as-leaders-indicators-of-change-by-ambassadormo/43153


By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey

Facebook = Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect”

Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX


War Crimes Justice Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice