Key Senator: Egypt's Actions Against Rights Groups Put Further Aid In Doubt

A recent crackdown by Egypt's rulers against international human-rights and pro-democracy groups operating in the country means Egypt could lose $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid which it receives annually, according to a key Senate chairman.

Although Egyptians captivated the world last year with massive pro-democracy protests which led to the ouster of their longtime autocratic ruler, Hosni Mubarak, the nation's transition to democracy has not been smooth, says Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate subcommittee which oversees the approvals of foreign aid.

Civilian protesters have been arrested and prosecuted in military courts that do not protect due process, and in December Egyptian police raided the offices of seven nongovernmental organizations -- including four U.S.-based groups which work for democracy and human rights, Leahy says in a lengthy speech delivered Friday on the Senate floor.

There are also reports that as many as 400 Egyptian nongovernmental organizations are under investigation, allegedly for accepting foreign donations, Leahy adds.

"Apparently, to the thinking of Egypt's military rulers, there is nothing wrong with the Egyptian government receiving billions of dollars from U.S. taxpayers, but private Egyptian groups that work for a more democratic, free society on behalf of the Egyptian people, and that cannot survive without outside help, do so at their peril," he says.

Despite assurances from Egyptian authorities that the property seized from these organizations would be promptly returned, that has not happened, according to Leahy.

"To the contrary, the situation has gotten worse as several of their American employees have been ordered to remain in Egypt. Some of them have obtained protection at the U.S. Embassy. With each passing day there are growing concerns that these groups could face criminal charges for operating in the country without permission," he says.

"This is a spurious charge, since registration applications were submitted and deemed complete by the government years ago; because the organizations regularly reported to officials on their activities; and since, while registration was pending, they were permitted to operate," Leahy adds. "Ironically, while the previous regime did not seek to expel them for their pro-democracy work, Egypt's current authorities, whose responsibility it is to defend and support the democratic tradition, are attempting to do just that."

Such actions fly in the face of a U.S. law signed in December by President Obama which requires that "the Government of Egypt is supporting the transition to civilian government including holding free and fair elections; implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association, and religion, and due process of law," says Leahy, the congressional architect of this requirement.

The yearly U.S. military aid on which Egypt has relied upon for decades could end if "the assault against international and Egyptian nongovernmental organizations continues," Leahy says.

"I hope the Egyptian authorities fully appreciate the seriousness of this situation and what is at stake," he says. "They need to permit these organizations to reopen their offices, return the confiscated property, end investigations of their activities and the activities of Egyptian groups, and register them without conditions so they can continue to support the democratic transition."


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