A/HRC/39/41 pounds. 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. 20. On 1 June 2017, the High Commissioner for Human Rights addressed legislation adopted on 24 May 2017 (Law 70 of 2017 for Regulating the Work of Associations and Other Institutions Working in the Field of Civil Work), 5 noting that the work of nongovernmental organisations has been severely hampered already through asset freezes, travel bans, smear campaigns and prosecutions, and he expressed serious concern that the new legislation imposes severe restrictions on civil society and impinges on the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association. This was addressed previously on 23 November 2016 by three special procedures (A/HRC/34/75, EGY 14/2016). The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights sent a letter to the Government on 28 April 2017 where he addressed concerns about some provisions under the then draft law that would undermine civil society’s ability to engage freely with the United Nations, including provisions that would require them to seek Government permission before working with international organizations or experts, and that would defer administration of such international engagement to the Government. 21. On 31 July the Government provided an update. Regarding the case of Mr. Amasha, the Government noted that the accused is in pre-trial detention based on case number 316 of 2017 on charges of joining a group established contrary to law, calling for demonstrations without authorization, incitement to violence and other charges. He was recommended to undergo medical treatment and to follow up with the medical consultant in the prison’s clinic. 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 nongovernmental 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 from abroad 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. 6. India 23. In the 2017 report of the Secretary-General, intimidation and reprisals against Mr. Khurram Parvez, Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances and Program Coordinator of the Central Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), were reported in relation to his cooperation with the Human Rights Council, the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances and the universal periodic review. These reprisals took the form of a travel ban and arbitrary arrest and detention, reportedly because Mr. Parvez was fomenting an “anti-India narrative,” propagating separatism, and inciting others to violence. Reprisals were apparently taken against him for documenting and sharing information with the United Nations on human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, including on behalf of victims. At the time of his preventive detention of 76 days in 2016, he was accused in four criminal cases, which were 5 44 OHCHR, “Repressive new NGO law deeply damaging for human rights in Egypt – Zeid,” 1 June 2017. GE.18-13325

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