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US officials praise Sisi’s commitment to counter-terrorism

October 11, 2016 at 4:10 pm

US Republican senators have praised Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi for his “commitment” to economic development in Egypt and counter-terrorism efforts, recognising Egypt as having a “pivotal role” in stabilising the region.

During a meeting with Al-Sisi, headed by Senator James Risch in Sharm El-Sheikh, Al-Sisi said Egypt’s human rights record should not be viewed from a “Western perspective” or standards.

The comments come in stark contrast with Al-Sisi’s record since taking becoming president in June 2014, where he has been widely condemned for Egypt’s human rights abuses, the arrest of thousands of political opposition figures, restrictions to freedom of speech and mass torture and killings by police forces.

“What makes it worse is that Western governments that subordinated human rights in their relations with Egypt during the Mubarak era seem ready to repeat their mistake,” Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director Joe Stork said last year.