US Aid to Egypt: What's a Few Dead Prisoners Between Friends?
The New Arab reports the death of Ibrahim Abdel Rahman in an Egyptian prison, sparking calls for an inquiry into severe medical neglect. This, of course, is concerning news for human rights advocates. But for the U.S. State Department and its allies, it's just another Tuesday in a country that received over $1.3 billion in annual military aid from the U.S. in 2023 alone. One might genuinely wonder
how many 'outraged' statements from the Biden administration it takes to cut off the cash flow to an alleged human rights abuser—or if such statements are merely performative. While rights groups expose the systematic abuse in Egypt's sprawling prison system (where tens of thousands are incarcerated), Washington continues its 'strategic partnership.' The U.S. Congress, with many members who
express grave concern over humanitarian crises elsewhere, consistently signs off on this robust aid package. The silence on Egypt's domestic abuses, especially when compared to the loud condemnations reserved for 'unfriendly' nations, suggests a curious moral selectivity. Apparently, some human rights violations are simply more bipartisan than others.