New formation announced for National Human Rights Council

Hazem al-Beblawi issued a decree on Thursday for a new formation of the National Human Rights Council, the state-run Middle East News Agency reported. 

The council will now be headed by Mohamed Fayeq, who formerly worked with the General Intelligence Services and served as minister of information during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser, a time when media freedoms were essentially stifled.

His vice is Abdel Ghaffar Shokr, the head of the Popular Socialist Alliance, who had resigned from the previous formation under deposed President Mohamed Morsi. 

The new council formation comprises 25 members, according to MENA. Members include liberal politicians Mona Zul Faqar and George Ishaq, who led the Kefaya opposition movement under the rule of former President Hosni Mubarak. 

Journalist Syndicate figures Mohamed Abdel Qoddous and Gamal Fahmy were also among those reportedly appointed to the council. Yasser Abdel Aziz, a media consultant, was also appointed. 

Laywers Ragai Atteya, who represented the Mubarak family, and Mokhtar Nouh, who used to defend Islamist groups, were appointed to the council. Nageh Ibrahim, another Islamist figure, was also among the reported appointees, as well as Kamal al-Helbawy, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader.

Human rights advocates included in the new formation are Hossam Bahgat, Hafez Abo Saeda, Negad al-Boraie, Manal al-Tiby, and Ragia Omran. Labor activist Kamal Abbas was also appointed, alongside activists Nevine Mossad and Shahinda Maklad. 

Asked about his appointment, Bahgat told Mada Masr that he didn't know anything about it and wasn't consulted. 

Shokr described the current formation of the council as balanced as it includes representatives of civil society and human rights organizations. He told Al-Ahram that the council has a lot of challenges ahead due to the ongoing violence that followed Morsi's ouster on July 3. He added that he vows to make sure the council is independent from any pressure. 

However, many of those appointed by Beblawi have supported the military's move to oust Morsi. 

The council, set up in 2003, has been often slammed for not being independent from the ruling government.