Egypt in the news on 25 July: Human rights (again), Nabila Makram under fire
The IMF’s signoff on disbursing Egypt’s final loan tranche is topping coverage in the foreign press, marking the first time in what feels like eons that a business-related story is the most newsworthy story on Egypt.
It’s safe to say that Human Rights Watch doesn’t hold the new NGOs Act in high regard: The newly-approved legislation features many of the same “draconian restrictions” on the work of NGOs as the 2017 law it is replacing, and should be sent back to parliament to “address its fundamental flaws,” the organization says.
Immigration Minister Nabila Makram is catching some flak in the foreign press for saying that Egypt will not tolerate anybody who criticizes the country, and “drawing her finger across her neck in a throat-cutting gesture,” the Independent says. Makram defended herself against accusations that she was insinuating support for violence against dissidents.