Amid rising concerns from human rights organizations, Amnesty International has called upon the Egyptian government to reconsider its newly proposed refugee law. The organization has flagged multiple instances where this legislation fails to meet the standards set by international human rights and refugee laws. A key recommendation from Amnesty is for the Egyptian parliament to revise the draft law more thoroughly.
According to Amnesty International, the new refugee bill falls short of addressing Egypt’s commitments under the 1951 Refugee Convention. Various aspects of the law purportedly undermine the right to seek asylum and fail to prevent arbitrary detention of those fleeing conflict. Furthermore, the law contains exclusion clauses focused on ambiguous terms like “national security” and “public order.” Such clauses provide sufficient vagueness to allow misinterpretation and potential abuse by authorities, consequently jeopardizing the safety of refugees.
An alarming component of the bill is its endorsement of the forced repatriation of refugees in contravention of the principle of non-refoulement, a central tenet of international law aimed at preventing the return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution. The absence of adequate legal protections for refugees as specified in the bill has also drawn significant criticism.
Amnesty International’s Mahmoud Shalaby remarked, “The Egyptian government must not seek to bypass its obligations under international human rights and refugee law with domestic legislation that would facilitate further abuses against refugees and asylum seekers.” Given the strategic nature of the European Union’s relationship with Egypt, the EU is also being called to urge the Egyptian government to consider the necessary amendments before the bill moves forward.
This legislative move comes as Egypt juggles the complexities of hosting more than 1.2 million Sudanese refugees in addition to migrants from a total of 62 nationalities. As conflicts in neighboring nations, such as Sudan, exacerbate the regional refugee crisis, criticisms trail Egypt’s reportedly deficient arrangements for managing the influx.
In response to the new asylum law, Egypt aims to set up a “Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs,” a government-led body attached to the Prime Minister’s office, set to streamline refugee-related matters. Parliamentary approval was granted in November 2024, a move seen as an attempt to formalize the asylum process at the domestic level. The effectiveness of this plan remains a topic of debate, given current deficiencies and human rights considerations that have drawn international attention.
The ongoing crisis, particularly with the displacement of over 10 million individuals due to Sudanese armed conflict, puts Egypt in a challenging position as it shoulders the burden of this humanitarian situation. The deteriorating conditions in Sudan further amplify the plight of Sudanese refugees, spotlighting the urgent need for a thoughtful approach to Egypt’s refugee policies.