Human Rights Watch urges Egypt to respect NGO freedom of association

New York-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch called on Egypt to ease restrictions on freedom of association, saying there cannot be true democracy without a vibrant civil society.

In a new report entitled "Egypt: Margins of Repression," the group acknowledged tentative steps toward reform but said the current legislation enacted in June 2003 was still in breach of international conventions.

In June, Human Rights Watch called on the Egyptian authorities to liberate two leaders of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood arrested last month for pressing for reforms