MP: New law will not challenge NGOs

Egyptian parliamentarian Heba Hagras said that the decision to delay the adoption of the NGO Law came due to several considerations and procedures within the House of Representatives. She denied what was published over its amendment by Egypt’s presidency after its published in the Official Gazette.

She added, in a statement to “Arabs Today”, that denied the increasing criticism against the lat, saying that the law does not aim to challenge the work of NGO, while to support their important role in the Egyptian community during the current critical period. She blamed those critics, saying that they attempt to rally the international community against Egypt.

She stressed that the major objective of the law is to organize the work of these organization during the current critical period not to challenge them, saying that the Egyptian parliament believes the importance of the role performed by such organizations to push forward the Egyptian community.

She added that the new law does not prohibit funding for NGOs, but rather recognizes the principle of transparency in obtaining the necessary funding and the ways of their spending.

Regarding fears of the role performed by such organization, the Egyptian parliamentarian said that it is not secret that a large number of organizations were keen to perform a political role during the recent period and worked to raise chaos in the Egyptian community, the matter that left negative repercussion not only on the political situation but also in the economy and daily life of the Egyptian people.

She added, “The new law set one year to allow existing associations to adapt their conditions with its articles. It also set deterrent actions against the organizations which receive financial support from the foreign countries. The new law emphasizes the need to disclose the financial resources of associations as well as the ways of their spending.”