19.The 2017 report of the Secretary-General addressed allegations of reprisals against civil society members in the form of asset freezes (see A/HRC/32/52/Add.1, para. 662 and A/HRC/36/31, para. 30). Staff members of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and members of their families are alleged to have been targeted for their cooperation with United Nations mechanisms and their meetings with United Nations representatives, and are being subject to asset freezes. Mr. Mohamed Zaree, who has been banned from travelling outside Egypt in relation to this legislation (case 173/2011), was interrogated on 24 May 2017 by a judge as part of the ongoing prosecution of the foreign funding case, and hasreportedly been accused of submitting information to the United Nations. He had also been accused of intending to harm Egypt through his role in preparing for the universal periodic review in 2014.Reportedly, Mr. Zaree was questioned for allegedly receiving foreign funds for an unregistered entity (CIHRS) and using them for unlawful activities with the intent of harming national security and interests.In May 2017 the judge pressed three charges, including two felonies, and set his bail at 30,000 Egyptianpounds.Mr. Bahey El-Din Hassan and his family have been subject to asset freezes, and most recently to death threats in relation to a memo sent by seven Egyptian civil society organizations to the United Nations Secretary-General regarding the presidential elections.These death threats were reportedly made on television on 21 March 2018 and, prior, on 25 May 2017.

21.On 31 July the Government provided an update. 22. Regarding the case of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and its staff members, the Government noted that Decision number 325 of 2011 assigned a Judge to investigate the legal violations of foreign funding received by associations and non-governmental organizations operating in Egypt in violation of the provisions of the Law on Associations and NGOs, including this organization, its founder, Mr. Hassan and its director, Mr. Zaree. The Judge requested that the relevant individuals be prohibited from making use of their real estate as well as movable and liquid assets in accordance with the provisions of Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code, to ensure that the court’s decision is complied, in case the court decides to impose fines or order compensation for the charges attributed to them, which are punishable by the Penal Code and Law No. 84 of 2002 on associations and civil institutions. The Government noted that the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies is not registered with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, and that financial transfers fromabroad were received illegally in violation of the provisions of Law No. 84 of 2002, which governs the work of associations and civil institutions.Regarding the allegations that Mr. Hassan and his family were subjected to threats, the Government noted that they could submit a communication to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, since such a threat, if it has occurred, is unacceptable in breach of the law.

50. The 2017 (A/HRC/36/31, para. 30) and 2018 (A/HRC/39/41, Annex II, paras. 19, 22) reports of the Secretary-General addressed allegations of reprisals against civil society members in the form of asset freezes and travel bans. Several civil society representatives were prohibited from travelling outside of Egypt under case 173/2011, impacting their cooperation with the UN. On 20 December 2018, it was reported that over 40 civil society activists and human rights defenders were acquitted in case 173/2011, many of whom had been targeted for allegedly receiving foreign funds, inter alia. Despite this significant development, case 173 remains open and many civil society representatives have been brought in for questioning. As of May 2019, 31 human rights defenders were reportedly banned from travel, and around 60 summoned for investigation. Seven NGOs and ten human rights defenders were still subject to asset freezes including several cases in the 2017 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General, such as staff members of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and members of their families, Mr. Bahey El Din Hassan (EGY 16/2017), and Mr. Mohamed Zaree (EGY 16/2017), among others.