Egypt: Shake-Up in Human Rights Council

Egypt: Shake-Up in Human Rights Council

In a recent shake up in the Egyptian government’s National Council for Human Rights (NCHR).  Samia el-Motayyam, Fahmi Nashed, Galal Aref, Gamal Shuman, Sameh Ashour, and Suleiman Abdel Monem were all replaced and the council appointed Moqbel Shaker as reported in Al-Masry Al-youm Newspaper.

 

In addition to Shaker, new members of the council include: MP Ebtisam Habib, Assistant Minister of Justice Eskandar Ghattas, former Attorney General Ragaa el-Arabi, Consultant to the Cabinet of Ministers Adel Abdel Baqi, President Mubarak’s lawyer Anwar Raslan, Gaber Rihan, President of the Lawyers Syndicate Hamdi Khalifa, and President of the Journalists Syndicate Makram Mohamed Ahmed

 

Former Vice President Abul Magd was reportedly asked to remain in the council as a member; Magd stressed he would “continue fighting for human rights in Egypt and the Arab world despite his  allegations that he was not asked to remain on the council. Minister of State for Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils Mufid Shehab stated  that the Egyptian government is paying attention to human rights issues and that it is taking steps to enhance them for Egyptians

 

Shura Council Speaker Safwat el-Sherif declared that the NCHR is an independent organization which issues its proposals on human rights issues to government ministries and institutions according to established legal standards, international treaties on human rights, and the Egyptian Constitution