US military aid to Egypt is withheld at a cost of $85 million because of insufficient releases of political prisoners.
A US senator has demanded that $235 million not be given to Egypt until its record on democracy and human rights is improved.
The US Congress has added new human rights restrictions to aid, but Egypt’s president has refuted the claims.
US military assistance to Egypt will be withheld in the amount of $85 million as a result of Cairo’s failure to free a sufficient number of political detainees. On Wednesday, a US lawmaker called on the US to withhold an additional $235 million.
Two other persons with knowledge of the matter stated that the $235 million decision was anticipated soon and the $85 million was being withheld.
This is based on an article published by the American news outlet Reuters, which also mentioned that demands for comment were not immediately answered by the State Department or the Egyptian embassy.
During a floor speech, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy stated, “The administration rightly decided to withhold that first tranche—$85 million tied to the release of political prisoners—because there’s just not enough progress.” “I would urge the administration to finish the job and withhold the full $320 million… until Egypt’s human rights and democracy record improves,” the senator continued.
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