Egypt’s draft asylum law, approved by parliament on November 19, 2024, has sparked criticism from human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), Human Rights Watch said. Critics argue the law could undermine refugee rights, violate international agreements, and hinder the work of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The bill, awaiting ratification by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aims to regulate asylum and refugee affairs in Egypt for the first time. HRW raised concerns that the law would allow authorities to deny or withdraw asylum arbitrarily, impose vague obligations on refugees, and criminalize irregular entry and unofficial aid.
The rights group also criticized the rushed approval process, which lacked consultation with civil society or UNHCR. The draft law shifts refugee management from UNHCR to a new national body, the Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs. Critics fear the transition could disrupt services for the over 845,000 refugees registered in Egypt.
HRW said that the law also narrows refugees’ rights, with provisions restricting political activities and punishing violations with fines or imprisonment. While the law seeks to align with Egypt’s commitments under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, HRW called for revisions to close legal gaps and ensure compliance with international standards.
