A top Democratic senator has blamed a crackdown on independent journalism in Egypt on a decision by the Trump administration to waive human rights conditions on US military funding to the country. Chris Murphy, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused the US government of "abandoning" the Egyptian people after it lifted restrictions relating to more than $300m of defence assistance. Over the last month a series of arrests has taken place of journalists at two of the few remaining independent news outlets in Egypt, where newspapers and TV stations are closely controlled by the authorities.
The US State Department told the BBC it waived conditions on a portion of military aid to Egypt in September due to the country's "importance to US national security interests". Murphy, speaking at the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington this week, said he was in no doubt the two were linked. "The minute that money was released, the crackdown began in an absolutely devastating way," he said.
On Tuesday a court in Cairo ordered the closure of the news website Madr Masa and fined its editor-in-chief Lina Attalah in what Amnesty International called "a crushing blow to press freedom". Earlier this month, authorities arrested six journalists at the independent fact-checking platform Matsda2sh and charged them with belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Egyptian journalists from fact-checking website facing terrorism charges Gaza plans put Egypt-US relations to tough test TV presenter among 12 sentenced to death in Egypt drugs case Cairo has remained a close regional ally of the US despite what human rights groups say are widespread abuses under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government, including torture and enforced disappearances. Sisi denies there are political prisoners in Egypt. He has previously said stability and security are paramount, adding authorities have promoted rights by trying to provide basic needs such as jobs and housing.
Washington sends Egypt £1.3bn ($1.73bn) per year, making it one of the world's biggest recipients of US military assistance. US law allows up to £320m of the funding to be withheld, conditioned on Egypt meeting democracy and human rights requirements. But these restrictions can be waived by the administration on national security grounds.
In September, Secretary of State Marco Rubio waived human rights conditions on $320m of military aid in light of Egypt's role since the launch of the US war with Iran, according to a letter addressed to various Congressional committees. Egypt assisted negotiations between the US and Iran. Exercising the waiver authority was "essential" for the US-Egypt relationship, "particularly in light of Egypt's helpful role following Operation Epic Fury," according to the September 4 memo seen by which bore Rubio's signature.
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