Egypt Charges 'Terrorist' Novelist; US Funds Sisi's Silence
Egypt's crackdown on free speech continues, with Coptic novelist Hani Sobhi now facing terrorism charges for satirical posts about President Sisi online. According to The New Arab, Sobhi's 'crime' was criticizing a government that receives significant military and economic aid from the United States. While the Biden administration touts democracy and human rights, it approved $1.3 billion in
military aid to Egypt in 2023, despite numerous reports from human rights organizations detailing Sisi's brutal suppression of dissent. One might wonder how many novelists must be branded 'terrorists' before Washington re-evaluates its 'strategic partnership' with Cairo. It seems 'stability' often comes with a hefty price tag in human rights violations, conveniently overlooked when arms deals and
regional interests are on the table. The US State Department's criticism of Egypt's human rights record rings hollow when contradicted by the consistent flow of taxpayer dollars maintaining the very regime doing the oppressing. This isn't just about Sobhi; it's about the international complicity in silencing critical voices globally.