US senator links Egypt press crackdown to waived military aid conditions
Senator Chris Murphy criticized the US decision to release over $300 million in military aid to Egypt, linking it to Cairo's crackdown on independent media.
US Senator Chris Murphy has criticized the Trump administration's choice to bypass human rights requirements tied to military aid for Egypt, attributing a recent crackdown on independent media to the policy shift.
Speaking as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Murphy argued that waiving restrictions on over $300 million in defense assistance signalled a retreat from supporting civil liberties. He accused Washington of "abandoning" the Egyptian populace by failing to leverage foreign assistance to protect democratic principles and press freedom. The comments follow growing international concerns regarding Cairo's tightening restrictions on journalists and political dissent.
Sources: BBC News.