A/HRC/43/2 and Peoples’ Rights, such as the NGO Forum organised in Sharm-el-Sheikh, when the authorities allegedly denied visas, threatened and intimidated human rights defenders. 862. The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom welcomed the acceptance by Egypt of several recommendations to end violence against women and girls, noting, however, that legal loopholes often counter efforts made to end violence. It recommended that Egypt amend all discriminatory laws and provisions against women. It also noted that the targeting of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, was systematic, as indicated by recommendations made in this universal periodic review. Activists had been prosecuted as a result of the politically motivated court case known as “Case 173”. It regretted that Egypt only partially accepted recommendation 31.175 to end such case and that it considered factually incorrect recommendation 31.130, calling for the release all persons detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression. It urged Egypt to cease all account freezing and travel bans, and ensure a safe working environment for human rights defenders. 863. Human Rights Watch stressed that, as in the previous universal periodic review cycles, Egypt rejected recommendations on critical human rights issues, including establishing a moratorium on the application of the death penalty; ending crackdowns on peaceful dissent and restrictions on freedom of assembly; and investigating serious abuses such as extrajudicial killings, torture and forced disappearances. It was concerned that the responses provided by Egypt failed to match the reality on the ground. It noted media and reports by human rights organizations, that Egypt was not taking any measures to stop the mass arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, and the crackdown on civil society. It called upon the Human Rights Council to press for the release of those jailed peaceful activists and individuals and to end violations, and to demand accountability. 864. Minority Rights Group welcomed the commitment of Egypt to remove the unnecessary restrictions on the building and renovation of churches and urged amending Law 80/2016. It was concerned that, while attacks on religious buildings are criminalized in the Penal Code, in practice, perpetrators are rarely brought to account due to informal justice reconciliation sessions, and called on the authorities to discontinue this practice. It expressed concern for the rejection of the recommendation regarding the removal of religion references in national identity cards, which contributed to discrimination against religious minorities. It urged the return of the Nubian to their ancestral territory and the right of Nubians and Berbers to learn their languages in public schools. It was concerned with the pattern of reprisals and intimidation against human rights defenders. 865. The Right Livelihood Award Foundation welcomed the recommendations received by Egypt to end abusive practices, such as arbitrary arrests, judicial harassment, and sexual violence-related crimes. It was concerned that Egypt labelled several recommendations related to the criminalization of civil society actors and human rights defenders as “factually incorrect”. On the contrary, violations against them remained the norm, and the authorities regularly attacked freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. Six months ago, over 4000 protesters were arrested for peacefully demonstrating against corruption. It was concerned at targeting of leading women rights defenders and feminist activists, and punitive, reprisal-intentioned policies against icons of the feminist movement, including the cofounder of Nazra for Feminist Studies who was prosecuted under the infamous case 173/2011. It urged the Government to take effective measures to guarantee a free and active civil society by closing the “NGO Foreign Funding” case. 866. The International Federation for Human Rights Leagues was concerned that the responses of Egypt claiming that it already protects human rights defenders and respects the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association were misleading. It was appalled by the excuse to reject key recommendations calling for the release of individuals detained for exercising their rights and those calling for the revision of GE. 133