Case history: FVAFD
On 2 September 2015 the Administrative Court of the State Council denied the Foundation of the Victims of Abduction and Forced Disappearance (FVAFD) an urgent hearing of a lawsuit, which it had filed in February 2015 against the Ministry of Social Solidarity's initial decision regarding the registration of the organisation.
FVAFD is a non-profit foundation that works on providing legal aid, material support and other assistance to victims of violence, assault, abduction and enforced disappearance. The organisation monitors human rights violations with a special focus on marginalized groups and religious and ethnic minorities, and combats discrimination against them. The organisation has been working since 2010. Mr Ebram Louis, Chairman of its Board of Trustees, is a human rights defender and advocate for Egyptian women rights and minorities’ rights.
On 2 September 2015 the Administrative Court of the State Council denied the Foundation of the Victims of Abduction and Forced Disappearance (FVAFD) an urgent hearing of a lawsuit, which it had filed in February 2015 against the Ministry of Social Solidarity's initial decision regarding the registration of the organisation.
FVAFD is a non-profit foundation that provides legal aid, material support and other assistance to victims of violence, assault, abduction and enforced disappearance. The organisation monitors human rights violations with a special focus on marginalised groups and religious and ethnic minorities, and combats discrimination against them. FVAFD has been operational since 2010. Mr Ebram Louis, Chairman of its Board of Trustees, is a human rights defender and advocate for Egyptian women's rights and minorities’ rights.
No legal grounds were specified for the decision to deny an urgent hearing of this lawsuit, which followed FVAFD's request to the Administrative Court of the State Council seven months previously for such a hearing, as provided for under Egyptian law. On 1 July 2015, proceedings were adjourned for two months in order for the court to decide whether to allow an urgent hearing. This appears to have been an attempt to further delay the settlement of the lawsuit and its referral to the Judicial Commissioners' Board. The decision taken on 2 September 2015 to deny the urgent hearing was not announced publicly, and the hearing of the lawsuit is scheduled to recommence on 22 November 2015.
On 14 October 2014, FVAFD submitted all the documents required for the registration of an association under Egyptian Associations Law (Law 84 of 2002) to the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The same day, Ebram Louis received confirmation that the documents had been received. Article 6 of Law 84 of 2002 stipulates that “The legal personality of the association shall be established by carrying out this registration or with the lapse of sixty days from the date the representative of the founders group submits the registration application duly fulfilled, whichever is earlier”. Since the organisation received no reply from the Ministry of Social Solidarity within the designated period, the organisation contacted the Ministry to issue the certificate of registration. However, the Ministry informed them at that stage that the request for registration had been rejected due to security concerns. The letter of rejection was dated 29 December 2014 and was not sent to Ebram Louis or any other FVAFD representative.
Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned at the restrictions imposed on Egyptian civil society, which have intensified over recent years. In July 2014, Front line Defenders produced a short documentary on the crackdown against civil society in Egypt:
Front Line Defenders believes that the actions taken against FVAFD are solely motivated by their peaceful and legitimate human rights activities, and are aimed at silencing human rights defenders in Egypt.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity has denied registration of the Foundation of the Victims of Abduction and Forced Disappearance (FVAFD) under Egyptian Associations Law (Law 84 of 2002). Although the Ministry failed to provide official reasons for denying the registration, it has verbally acknowledged that the reasons are related to “security concerns”.
FVAFD is a non-profit foundation that works on providing legal aid, material support and other assistance to victims of violence, assault, abduction and enforced disappearance. The organisation monitors human rights violations with a special focus on marginalized groups and religious and ethnic minorities, and combats discrimination against them. The organisation has been working since 2010. Mr Ebram Louis, Chairman of its Board of Trustees, is a human rights defender and advocate for Egyptian women rights and minorities’ rights.
On 14 October 2014, the organisation submitted all the documents required for the registration of an association under the Egyptian Association Law to the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The same day, Ebram Louis received confirmation that the documents had been received. Article 6 of Law 84 of 2002 stipulates that “The legal personality of the association shall be established by carrying out this registration or with the lapse of sixty days from the date the representative of the founders group submits the registration application duly fulfilled, whichever is earlier”. Since the organisation received no reply from the Ministry of Social Solidarity within the designated period, the organisation contacted the Ministry to issue the certificate of registration. However, the Ministry argued that the request for registration had been rejected due to security concerns. The letter of rejection was dated 29 December 2014 and was not sent to Ebram Louis.
Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned at the restrictions imposed on Egyptian civil society, that have been intensifying over recent years. We are concerned at the denial of registration of the Foundation of the Victims of Abduction and Forced Disappearance, which occurred despite the fact that the Ministry of Social Solidarity publicly warned human rights NGOs to register under Association Law No.84/2002 or be prosecuted. In July 2014, Front line Defenders produced a short documentary on the crackdown against civil society in Egypt, which can be found at this link.
Front Line Defenders believes that the actions taken against FVAFD are solely motivated by their peaceful and legitimate human rights activities, and are aimed at silencing human rights defenders in Egypt.
