Egypt’s decision to reopen a legal case against non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that dates back to 2011 has caused the United States and Amnesty International to voice concern about the move. US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement released on Friday that he is “deeply concerned” by the worsened situation for human rights in Egypt. “I am deeply concerned by the deterioration in the human rights situation in Egypt in recent weeks and months, including the reported decision this week by the Egyptian government to reopen an investigation of Egyptian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) documenting human rights abuses and defending the freedoms enshrined in Egypt’s constitution,” the statement that appeared on the State Department’s website on Friday read. Meanwhile, Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme, said, “Egyptian authorities are abusing the justice system as part of their campaign to eradicate the last vestiges of civil society and silence critical voices.” The investigation of the NGOs was first launched in 2011 over the alleged illegal foreign funding received by the organizations, which prompted Egyptian authorities to raid several of their offices. Several of the…
