One of Egypt’s most prominent human rights groups has announced that it will register under a restrictive law that it and other organisations have decried as an attempt by the government to silence them.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which was founded 12 years ago, said on Sunday that its trustees had voted to register after a government ultimatum warned those who failed to register would face prosecution.

But the group maintained that it would continue to fight against the 2002 law which gives the state sweeping authority over their activities and financing.

EIPR monitors police abuse, provides legal counselling and documents violations in the country’s complex criminal justice system.

It also campaigns for policies to guarantee economic and social justice.

It said it would continue to test what freedoms the law allows.

“Our work was always extremely difficult,” said EIPR director Khaled Mansour.

“I don’t expect it to be easier under the law. We decided to call the government’s bluff.”

Mr Mansour said there were already extensive pressures on civil groups, including revising the penal code to impose a life sentence against anyone who received foreign funding with the aim of “hurting national security.”

Such vague phrasing could be used against such rights groups, who finance much of their work through foreign funds, he warned.

Nine foreign and eight local organisations submitted applications before the ultimatum expired.

Others have shut down to avoid the crackdown and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies moved some of its activities outside Egypt.