Egypt’s Ministry of Health has said the decision to shut down El Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture due to “violations” is “final,” according to a statement issued by the NGO on Monday. “On 21 February, several members of El Nadim visited the Ministry of Health to inquire about these alleged breaches. They were told that the closure order was final and that the decision was based on the fact that El Nadim conducted activities beyond their mandate, such as the publication of torture reports. El Nadim’s request for a postponement of the closure until their medical activities could be disengaged from their human rights advocacy work was denied,” the statement reads. Despite these roadblocks, however, the NGO has vowed to fight back and filed an urgent motion with the Administrative Court in an attempt to stall the center’s closure. Last Wednesday, a police delegation arrived at El Nadeem with orders from authorities to close down the center for then-unknown reasons. The Ministry’s decision has been lambasted by many as a suppression of free speech and an “ongoing crackdown” on human rights activists. Arci, EuroMed Rights, Front Line Defenders, the International…
Egypt’s Decision to Shut Down El Nadeem Center ‘Final,’ NGO Vows to Fight Back
February 22, 2016
