Rights group says draft law would give Egypt's government control over non-governmental groups

CAIRO – A leading Egyptian human rights group is denouncing a draft law prepared by the country's Islamist government to grant licenses and monitor the funding for non-governmental groups.

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies says in a statement on Thursday that the proposed law would give the government full control over the flow of foreign funds to non-governmental groups.

The group says the draft law would empower Egyptian security agencies to monitor funding and grant licenses to domestic and international groups, giving the government the upper hand over the activities of non-governmental organizations.

The group charges that the law, prepared by the Justice Ministry, would codify into law "repressive security practices used by the state against civil society," and would target groups that have been exposing human rights violations.