Clinton criticizes Egypt ‘s democracy

Clinton made her remarks during “Civil Society Supporting Democracies in the 21^st Century” conference in Krakow , Poland. She added that intolerant governments across the globe are “slowly crushing” activist and advocacy groups that play an essential role in the development of democracy, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday

Clinton made particular reference Egypt among other countries including Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, China and Russia. She asserted that the US supported efforts to encourage civil society worldwide stressing that the US would work with regional organizations including the Arab League, the European Union and the African League to secure the freedom of association. She emphasized that “freedom of association is the only freedom defined in the United Nations declaration of human rights that does not enjoy specific attention from the UN human rights’ body”

Bahi el-Din Hassan, Director of the Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies, regarded Clinton ‘s remarks as a message to the Egyptian regime it has crossed the line when it comes to human rights and democracy. Hassan continued that a at conference on Friday by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, directed  severe condemnations  at Egypt’s “deteriorating political situation and daily restrictions place on the country’s NGO’s”

In Egypt, civil society and political opposition groups have been constantly targetted by the government, including the Muslim Brotherhood bloc, 6th April movement, Kefaya and others that have been subjected to government pressure. Measures including banning conferences, harassing phone calls, frequent threats that the government can close organizations down and even indefinite detention, long-term imprisonment and exile are evident