What we are working on

One of our goals for 2011 is to begin production of a series of programs concerning democracy and human rights issues in the context of the political revolution taking place across the Arab World. One of the countries which we are looking to facilitate democracy and human rights is in Egypt. We have been in communication with many NGOs and civil organizations within Egypt who seek to add a balanced perspective to the discussion of freedom and true democracy. Our hope to partner with these groups have been under threat by this statement, “Egyptian public opinion rejects such funding, as it is considered interference in Egyptian domestic affairs,” made by Faiza Abou el-Naga, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, as he also directed the ministry of justice to form a commission to examine direct foreign funding of civil society projects in Egypt.

The Ministry has the power to approve or deny foreign funding, and can deny registration or dissolve an NGO on “overly vague” grounds. Prominent Editor Ibrahim Eissa pointed out that the Egyptian government has not exercised the same level of scrutiny when dealing with sources of funding for Islamic civil organizations and parties. “Unlike US officials or European ones who are obliged to disclose details of donations, grants and loans to foreign entities, the Gulf countries manipulate their populations’ resources without any checks and balances,” he said on Fil Midan. We pray that we will be able provide a balanced viewpoint to the discussion on behalf of the minorities and oppressed segments of Egyptian society.