Human rights advocates have raised concerns over Egypt’s recently enacted asylum law, arguing it undermines international refugee protections. Critics, including prominent advocacy groups, have called for a comprehensive revision of the legislation to ensure alignment with global standards.
The new law, known as the Law Regarding the Asylum of Foreigners (LRAF), has faced backlash for excluding input from civil society organizations and international bodies during its drafting. It has been accused of introducing broad and vague criteria that could lead to arbitrary denial or withdrawal of refugee status. The legislation also criminalizes irregular migration, restricts refugees’ rights to political and union activities, and lacks safeguards like access to legal representation and the ability to challenge detention.
While the law recognizes some basic refugee rights, such as access to healthcare, education, and freedom of movement, critics argue that numerous exceptions undermine these protections. A newly established government body, the “Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs,” has also drawn concern for potentially limiting international cooperation on refugee issues.
Advocates warn that the law could exacerbate existing challenges for the over 1.2 million refugees currently hosted in Egypt, many of whom fled the conflict in Sudan. Despite growing international criticism, the law was approved by Egypt’s parliament in November 2024 and subsequently ratified by the president.
As the country grapples with a worsening migration crisis, rights groups continue to urge the government to reconsider the legislation and engage with international standards to safeguard the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
