US concerned over Egypt's deteriorating human rights situation

The US has expressed concern over "deterioration" in the human rights situation in Egypt, saying restrictions on civil societies will produce neither stability nor security.

"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 organisations (NGOs) documenting human rights abuses and defending the freedoms enshrined in Egypt's constitution," Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday.

Kerry said the decision by Egypt this week to investigate the NGOs, which were documenting human rights abuses in the country, comes against a wider backdrop of arrests and intimidation of the political opposition, journalists, activists and others.

He said these steps run contrary to the universal principle of freedom of association and to the Government of Egypt's commitments to support the role of civil society in governance and development.

"Restrictions on the space for civil society activity will produce neither stability nor security. I urge the Government of Egypt to work with civic groups to ease restrictions on association and expression and to take action to allow these and other human rights NGOs to operate freely," Kerry added.