Egypt’s parliament on Monday removed jail penalties from a law controlling operations of non-governmental organisations, but rights groups rejected the changes as insufficient, reports Reuters.

Ali Abdel Aal, Egypt’s domineering speaker of parliament, is facing stiff internal opposition on multiple fronts for the first time since he assumed the post three and a half years ago. 

Egypt’s Parliament approved on Wednesday the removal of the parliamentary immunity granted to a member of the parliament, Salah Eisa, for receiving bribes that reached EGP 2m to facilitate issuing construction permissions in Alexandria.

The Social Solidarity Committee in Egypt Parliament’s started discussions on a new draft of the law regulating the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Monday. They are expected to continue discussions on Tuesday.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi swore in the heads of two top judicial bodies over the weekend following constitutional amendments passed in April that granted the president increased power over the selection process allegedly as part of his ongoing fight against terrorism.

No links between the newly-amended law, per which Egypt can grant citizenship for foreigners, and the so-called deal of the century,” said Egypt’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Al-Aal on Sunday.

The state committee for the legalization of unlicensed churches made up of Egypt’s cabinet on Monday approved the legalization of 127 churches and church-affiliated service buildings across the country.

Egypt has come under mounting international criticism over its human rights record, in light of hundreds of cases of deaths and torture in detention facilities, restrictions on freedom of expression and use of the death penalty. These days, the Muslim Brotherhood, banned by the government following the toppling of President Mohammed Morsi …

The topic of granting foreigners Egyptian citizenship has long been controversial, and proposed amendments to the Egyptian Nationality Law are no exception.

Several political figures involved in discussions to form a new political alliance meant to stand in 2020 parliamentary elections were arrested beginning at dawn on Tuesday.