Letter to President of Egypt regarding its Public Assembly Law

SUMMARY

The Committees on International Human Rights and African Affairs, in a joint letter to the President of Egypt, expressed concern over the arrest and detention of seven female human rights defenders along with 24 activists, reported to be peacefully protesting the highly-criticized Law No.107 on the Right to Public Meetings and Peaceful Demonstrations (the Law). The letter urged the Egyptian government to take all necessary measures to ensure that the defendants be immediately released, and to revoke or amend the Law to conform to international standards. Both of these actions, the letter noted, are necessary for the Arab Republic of Egypt to comply with international law and the Egyptian Constitution.