Eight American NGOs Refused Licenses in Egypt

Egypt’s Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs rejected the applications of eight American nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), which means the groups can no longer operate in Egypt legally, according to state –run MENA. The eight organizations include the Carter Center, Coptic Orphans, and Seeds of Peace. Sanne van den Bergh, the field office director for the Carter Center, said the group had not yet been contacted by the government and said of the decision, “we are aware of the media reports about it and we are looking into them.” The lawyer for Coptic Orphans, Negad al-Borai, said, “I don’t understand how a charity group like the Coptic Orphans, which works with over 35 churches in Egypt to provide medical and social aid, was rejected.”

In related news, Interpol refused a request from Egyptian authorities to issue a worldwide ‘red notice’ for 15 nongovernmental workers, 12 of them Americans. Interpol said it would not issue ‘red notices’ for the workers, which would have required all Interpol member states, including the United States, to arrest them. In a statement, Interpol said its decision to reject Egypt’s request was because it, “is not in conformity with Interpol’s rules,” and referenced Article 3 of its constitution, which forbids any intervention in matters of, “political, military, religious or racial character.” President of Freedom House David Kramer said, “This has been a positive development and I appreciate the efforts of the U.S. government to weigh in on the Interpol request. But the situation is far from resolved.”