The long-delayed executive bylaws for new legislation governing the operations of non-governmental organizations were published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, a final step in the implementation of the highly scrutinized law.

An investigative judge in a long-running case targeting non-governmental organizations in Egypt accused of illegally receiving foreign funding announced on Saturday that investigations into 20 NGOs have ended and no criminal cases will be pursued.

A British government minister has been criticised for travelling to Cairo to discuss investment in Egypt despite concerns raised by human rights groups about the mass trial of activists who could face death sentences if convicted.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Wednesday ratified the new law regulating the practice of civil work in Egypt, known in the media as the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Law.

Events around the Arab world in the last few years illustrate the weakness of civil society and its incapacity to prevail over well-organised regimes, particularly military ones.

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.

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.

The Egyptian cabinet approved during its meeting on Wednesday the final draft of the law regulating the practices of non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations.

Leading up to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s Tuesday meeting with US President Donald Trump, intense lobbying efforts were underway in Washington from civil society groups and some US officials for the American leader to raise human rights concerns with his counterpart. 

A defendant in Egypt’s notorious “foreign funding” case on Tuesday tweeted a photo of his official acquittal papers received by post.