The undersigned Egyptian Human Rights and Civil Society Organizations express their protest regarding the Ministry of Social Affairs' rejection of the registration of two Egyptian human rights organizations: the Land Center for Human rights and the New Woman Research Center. The Ministry refused the registration of both organizations upon the request of Security Authorities.

The protest of the undersigned organizations is not only because of the rejection of those two organizations, who have contributed a lot to the protection and advocacy for human and women's rights, but also because this security directed orientation of the Egyptian government is a violation of all constitutional rules and those included in all human rights conventions endorsed by the Egyptian government.

The undersigned organizations draw the attention that the Egyptian government has been increasingly using the "security" approach in dealing with human rights organizations. It was not satisfied with the many restrictions already present in the new association law no. 84/2003, but also released the grip of security authorities to determine the fate of civil society in Egypt. We would also like to remind that the Egyptian government had previously used the military decree no. 4/1992 against an Egyptian civil society activist.

While the undersigned organizations express their complete and unconditional solidarity with the two mentioned organizations, they also wish to underline that they are thereby defending democracy and human rights in Egypt and that they will use all constitutional means to defend the role of Egyptian civil society to build democracy and human rights in Egypt. They also call on all national democratic forces, groups and committees to join them in their legitimate struggle for existence.

The signatories (in alphabetical order):

Anti-globalization Egyptian Group
Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
Association for Human Rights Legal Aid
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Center for Alternative Development Research and Programs
Center for Socialist Studies
Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession
Center for the Rights of the Egyptian Child
Center for Trade Union and Workers Services
Committee for the Defense of Democracy
Egyptian Association Against Torture
Egyptian Center for the Right to Housing
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
Egyptian Organization for Human rights
Habi Center for Environmental Rights
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
Human rights Center for the Assistance of Prisoners
Nadim Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence