U.S. Halts New Aid to Egypt Over Ibrahim Case

MOUNT RUSHMORE, South Dakota, August 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - President George W. Bush opposed new aid to Egypt to protest the seven-year jail sentence handed down last month to Egyptian-American human rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim, the White House spokesman confirmed Thursday, August 15.

"Egypt is an important friend and ally and the United States has expressed its deep concern about this particular case," Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Claire Buchan, a White House spokesman, as saying from Mount Rushmore, South Dakota where Bush was giving a speech.

"As a friend and ally we will meet our Camp David commitments, but at this time we don't contemplate additional funds beyond the Camp David commitments," she added.

The decision will not affect existing aid programs to Egypt, amounting to nearly two billion dollars a year, U.S. officials said.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. officials, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed reports in Thursday's Washington Post and Chicago Tribune that said Bush would soon notify Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of his decision in writing.

"We are not in a position to [look at new aid] at this point because of the lack of a response from Egypt in the Ibrahim case," one senior official said.

Meanwhile, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Cairo will not accept any pressure from abroad, reacting to reports that President Bush will oppose any new U.S. aid to Egypt.

"Egypt does not accept any pressure, of any kind, and everyone knows it," Ahmed Maher told the press when asked about the Post article.

Ibrahim, who is a sociology professor at the American University in Cairo (AUC), was sentenced July 29 following a retrial on charges that included tarnishing Egypt's image abroad.

The "case of Saad Eddin Ibrahim has been examined by the judiciary," Maher said. "We have already explained ourselves over this affair.

"We do not interfere in the course of justice, and we asked everyone to accept the decisions of our judiciary."

Ibrahim was charged with embezzling funds, deliberately tarnishing his country’s image and receiving foreign funds without permission

Ibrahim, 63, faced charges including embezzling funds, tarnishing his country’s image by fabricating reports about alleged persecution of minorities and receiving foreign funds without permission.

Mubarak had been lobbying for an extra 150 million dollars in U.S. aid, arguing tit-for-tat after the U.S. Congress voted recently to grant Israel 200 million dollars in anti-terrorism funds, said AFP.

The U.S. policy change would be notable, as Egypt has been considered a longtime ally of the United States and a prominent player in efforts to defuse the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said AFP.

Ibrahim, a university professor who holds Egyptian and American passports, writes and lectures about democratic values, including rights for Egyptian minorities. He has organized teams to monitor elections and taught people how to vote. He was arrested soon after he suggested that Mubarak might be preparing to anoint his son to replace him.