Egypt Defends Storming Civilian Groups

Egypt Defends Storming Civilian Groups
02 January, 2012 – Associated Press -by Aya Batrawi

CAIRO – A top Egyptian official responsible for overseeing civil society groups has defended sweeps through the offices of 10 human rights and pro-democracy organizations, rejecting denunciations from the U.S., U.N. and Germany.

Sunday’s comments were the first from the Egyptian government since the sweeps Thursday that targeted, among others, U.S.-based groups invited to observe Egypt’s months-long election process. Reports of heavily armed police and soldiers storming into offices, sealing the doors, rifling through files and confiscating computers set off a wave of international protest against Egypt’s rulers.

International Cooperation Minister Faiza Aboul Naga defended the operation as a legitimate investigation into organizations suspected of operating without permits and receiving “political funding” against the law.

Aboul Naga pointed to repeated complaints from the judiciary and the ruling military about civil society groups accepting foreign funds to promote protests and instability and “influence public opinion in non-peaceful ways.” She said the order to investigate the groups came from independent judges.

The military has pointed to “foreign hands” behind clashes with protesters who are demanding that the military hand over power to civilians. More than 100 people have been killed in the clashes since the military took over in February.

Rights groups dismiss the charges as an attempt to taint the reform movement that led to the ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising that demanded democracy and human rights. …more