Human rights groups say Egypt’s poll will be based on legislative and constitutional corruption

Human rights groups say Egypt’s poll will be based on legislative and constitutional corruption

 A report submitted by The Forum of Independent Human Rights NGOs on Egypt’s elections highlighted that it expected Egypt’s parliamentary election later this month will be rigged because of severe restrictions imposed by the authorities.

The coalition of 16 rights groups stressed that the Interior Ministry is continually cracking down, sometimes violently, on the media, people’s right to campaign and the right to assemble peacefully.

Although Authorities have pledged that there will be integrity in the November 28 balloting all calls for allowing international observers to monitor the vote have been ignored since Egypt rejects observer missions, alleging they infringe on the nation’s sovereignty.

The regime has cracked down on the media and all government critics in the run-up to the vote, shutting down private television channels and arresting dozens of opposition members mainly from the Muslim Brotherhood who enjoy much popularity. The authorities have presented a climate of intimidation within both the printed and visual media, in an effort to monopolize the media and control any information indicating that the forging of the voters will has already started.

According to the report the ballot will not meet the international standards for free and fair elections and will be based on legislative and constitutional corruption.

It added that the government continues to intimidate human rights organizations through indirect threats and harasses Arab and foreign activists while they are entering the country stressing that Egypt lacked the essential political will to systematize free and fair parliamentary election.

Related, the Brookings Institution also issued a report outlining the evident lack of transparency and fairness in the Egyptian electoral system, receiving coverage in the Egyptian press. The report highlights that while the results of elections do not reflect the will of the people or genuinely threaten the ruling party, they do provide opposition groups one of their only means of participation by providing a rare opportunity for dissent and political activity.