Most of us have never heard of Alaa Abdel Fattah, an Egyptian software engineer and political activist, imprisoned first after the 2011 protests in Egypt and re-imprisoned for “spreading false news.” Sounds familiar—the recourse of dictators, oops! Autocrats, so what’s the difference? Not much for Fattah who languishes in prison.
While we grant $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, people like Fattah languish in prison. Does Egypt really need money to bolder its defenses? Against what? Given in spite of human rights “concerns” – don’t you just love euphemisms? This “aid” really constitutes a bribe to buy some support for “regional peace.” Regional peace? You’ve got to be kidding.
The Egyptian government still refuses to release many held in torturous detention, the polite word for prison without trial, not to mention its refusal to protect Coptic Christians from harm. Fattah was first arrested for denouncing a massacre of Copts in 2011; he was supposed to be released in September. He’s still in prison and Egypt got its money.
Prayer for the Day
How long will the just be imprisoned, O Lord, how long,
While we dither about financing repressive governments?
How long must human rights defenders be held without cause,
Except that they threaten the Herods of our time?
Grant, O Lord, that we do not surrender our conscience,
Now standing on a precipice of fear.
In the name of the One who named Herod what he was,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
It's no secret that Egypt remains a deeply repressive autocratic state, and I see no good reason to ignore that fact by waiving these requirements.
Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator Connecticut
There's no reasonable assessment where one could say there's been progress on the human rights situation in Egypt. It remains a huge crisis. Tens of thousands of political prisoners [are] still held in the country.
Seth Binder, Middle East Democracy Center
Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help,
As I lift my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil,
Who speak peace with their neighbors while mischief is in their hearts.
Psalm 28: 2-4