Feminist and woman human rights defender Mozn Hassan, Founder and Executive Director of Nazra went today to New Cairo Court to appear before the investigative judge in accordance with the scheduled date and time that was specified by him. After the lawyers went into the office of the investigative judge to review the case papers and inform him of her presence, the judge notified them that he will specify an appointment for them to review the case papers, and subsequently will summon Mozn Hassan at another time.

We, the undersigned individuals, denounce the summoning and charging of Mozn Hassan, the founder and executive director of Nazra for Feminist Studies in Egypt, in the Case 173 of the year 2011. Mozn Hassan is the first civil society activist to be officially interrogated as a defendant in the Case 173 of the year 2011, known in the media as the “NGOs Foreign Funding” Case.

The independent human rights community in Egypt is at unprecedented risk. The recent imposition of travel bans, asset freezes as well as the interrogation of NGO staff by investigative judges illustrate a clear plan to prosecute the entire independent human rights movement. If the prosecution goes ahead, it will lead to the closure of these NGOs and the sentencing of their workers, including on charges that carry life sentences in prison.