A man signing a petition for the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi during a protest in Tahrir Square, Cairo, yesterday. The self-styled Tamarod, or Rebellion, campaign has collected more than seven million signatures of the planned 15m.
CAIRO: Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi submitted to parliament yesterday a controversial bill regulating NGOs and human rights groups but said it did not impose restrictions on their activities.
An earlier draft had drawn criticism from activists, Western governments and the United Nations human rights chief, who said it was more stifling than regulations under the deposed president Hosni Mubarak.
A presidential adviser said on Monday that the new draft should ease Western and opposition concerns that the Mursi administration is moving Egypt away from the democratic ideals.
Restrictions on civil society have remained a source of friction with Western states that help to finance non-government organsiations working on human rights and economic, social and political development. Mursi said in a speech that the new bill drafted by his administration did not signify a crackdown. “It enables civil society to be assured that the state will not...restrict civil society organisations that work in service of the sons of the nation,” Mursi said.
The new draft does away with controversial language that considers NGO funds as public money. A presidential adviser said it also ensures that security officials cannot serve on a steering committee, though they can still be consulted. Reuters
