In a significant move, a top Democratic lawmaker in the United States has called for the withholding of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Egypt due to concerns over human rights violations. Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the request, noting that Egypt had failed to meet the human rights criteria set by lawmakers to receive the aid.

US lawmakers had previously placed human rights conditions on $320 million of the $1.3 billion that Cairo receives annually from Washington. However, President Joe Biden's administration waived these conditions earlier this month, arguing that the assistance served US national interests. Ultimately, only $85 million was withheld.

In his statement, Meeks urged the State Department to pause a portion of US military financing to Egypt, amounting to $235 million, that is conditioned on human rights criteria. He stressed the need for more clarity from the State Department regarding the treatment of political prisoners, journalists, and the rule of law in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

This call comes at a critical time as Democratic Senator Bob Menendez faces corruption charges, including allegations of accepting bribes to advance the interests of the Egyptian government in Washington. Although Menendez has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, his indictment has sparked renewed demands in Congress to reassess assistance to Egypt.

Senator Chris Murphy expressed concern over the allegations and emphasized that there could be serious implications for US policy towards Egypt if the indictment suggests illicit means were used to curry favor on the committee. It is important to note that Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came to power in a 2013 military coup, has faced accusations from rights groups of jailing tens of thousands of dissidents and stifling political opposition.

The government's "National Human Rights Strategy" launched in 2021 has been dismissed by rights groups as a mere cover-up for ongoing abuses. Egypt holds a significant position as a top US ally in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Biden administration has occasionally voiced criticism over human rights issues.

However, they have also acknowledged Cairo's role in mediating between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza. During his campaign, President Biden vowed to prioritize human rights in his foreign policy and criticized his predecessor Donald Trump's close relationship with President el-Sisi. This recent call to reconsider aid to Egypt reflects an ongoing effort by Democratic lawmakers to hold governments accountable for human rights violations while simultaneously addressing national security interests.