Gamal Sorour
Gamal Sorour was a human rights defender, Nubian rights activist and philanthropist based between Egypt and France. Gamal Sorour was known across the Nubian community for his years of peaceful activism and support for the Nubian cause. At the time of his death, he faced charges of inciting protest, disruption of public order, and participating in unauthorized demonstration.
A significant crackdown on civil society in Egypt has been taking place since 2014. HRDs face an extremely challenging situation due to restrictions imposed on civil society and peaceful public gatherings and protests, travel bans, the arrest and sentencing of HRDs, bloggers, journalists and protesters, as well as an ongoing smear campaign against human rights groups.
Law 84 of 2002 regulates the establishment and functioning of NGOs. The law provides the Executive with several means and venues to exercise political control over the work of NGOs, including restricting their access to foreign funding and their ability to join international associations. It also provides the government with wide powers of dissolution. Human rights organisations are being subjected to judicial investigations by a committee of experts to assess whether they comply with Association Law 84/2002. Bans on their events have also been taking place.
