US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Applauds Egypt's Pardon of Activist Ahmed Douma in Push for Stronger Human Rights Partnership

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed his support for Egypt's recent pardon of activist Ahmed Douma and other prisoners, according to his spokesperson, Matthew Miller. Blinken, in a telephone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, emphasized the importance of progress on human rights in strengthening the US-Egypt partnership.

The discussion also touched on the ongoing crises in Sudan and other parts of Africa. Ahmed Douma, a prominent figure in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that led to the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak, was released from prison on Saturday after spending a decade behind bars.

He was granted a pardon by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is currently engaged in a national dialogue aimed at incorporating opposition voices into the political landscape, despite his previous crackdown on dissent. While Egyptian authorities have released 1,000 political prisoners since April of last year, human rights monitors report that nearly 3,000 more remain detained.

Douma, who was initially sentenced to life in prison in 2015, successfully appealed his case, resulting in a retrial and a reduced sentence of 15 years. He was a prominent critic of both President Mubarak and Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, who was overthrown in 2013 following mass protests against his divisive rule.

The release of Douma and other activists is seen as a positive step toward improving human rights conditions in Egypt. Secretary Blinken's support for these efforts underscores the importance of advancing human rights as a means of strengthening the partnership between the United States and Egypt.