U.S. Grows More Vocal About Egypt's Human Right's Abuses

U.S. Secretary of State expresses disappointment at Egyptian court decision

From Advocates For The Persecuted

August 12, 2007: According to a story in the Middle East Times' August 12, 2007 edition, Egypt's government “criticized what it called US interference in its internal affairs, after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined a growing chorus of American criticism of Cairo's human rights record.”

The article, “Egypt slams US 'interference' on human rights,” quoted Egypt's foreign minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, who said in a statement that, “Despite the solidity of Egyptian-American relations, Egypt doesn't think that allows anyone - even the United States - to interfere in its internal affairs.” He went on to say that the United States has become “more conscious of this reality [Egypt's viewpoint] “even if press statements by certain senior administration officials, including the secretary of state, could give the opposite impression.”

Rice told President Mubarak that she was unhappy with the decision by Egypt's court to keep Ayman Nur, a political opponent of the president, imprisoned even though Nur is reportedly suffering health problems.

Rice told reporters: “I talked about it extensively with President Mubarak and said that I was disappointed that the court decision had come out as it did. I know that there is going to be an appeal and it is certainly the hope of the United States that the appeal will come out favorably.”

According to the Middle East Times article, “the U.S. House of Representatives voted in June to withhold $200 million” in aid to Egypt due to concerns about Egypt's lack of progress in improving the nation's human rights record.