Egyptian anti-torture centre challenges government's shut down order

A plan by Egypt’s government to close a centre that aids survivors of torture and abuse including sexual violence has faced criticism from rights groups.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have said it is a ploy by the government to crackdown on human rights activists.

“Closing the Nadeem Center would be a devastating blow to Egypt’s human rights movement as well as victims of abuse,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s Middle East director.

The El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence was established in 1993 and is run by Dr Aida Seif el-Dawla who said the move to close it was politically motivated.

The government had given the centre until Monday to cease activities saying it had breached regulations.

But, officials of the centre have filed an urgent appeal against the decision.

Activists in the north African country have accused security forces of torturing detainees and detaining suspected activists or militant Islamists without reporting their arrests.

However, the government continues to deny these allegations.