For immediate release: December 20, 2011

Carter Calls for Halt to Egypt Aid over Coptic Christian Persecution 

 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should deny release of foreign aid to Egypt unless the Egyptian government can provide assurances for the civil rights of Coptic Christians and other persecuted minorities and protestors, according to House Republican Conference Secretary John Carter (TX-31).

 

“As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 that passed both Houses this month, Congress now requires  the Secretary of State to certify that Egypt is in compliance with its treaty obligations for free and fair elections; implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association and religion, and due process of law,” says Carter.   “Based on the actions of the Egyptian military and other forces in their brutal and deadly October 9 attack on peaceful civil rights demonstrations by Coptic Christians, followed by similar attacks on secular protesters on December 19, it is clear that Egypt is not in compliance and that all further aid should be halted.”

 

Clinton has the authority to withhold foreign aid to Egypt for civil rights violations, but also to provide waivers based on the national security needs of the United States.  Carter asked Clinton to not issue waivers, and instead insist on Egyptian compliance.

 

 

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State

2201 C St NW

Washington DC 20520

 

Dear Secretary Clinton:

 

                I write today to urge you to uphold the conditionality on aid to Egypt imposed by House Report 112-331 which accompanied H.R. 2055, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012.

 

                The conference report, which passed the House on December 16 and the Senate on December 17 and is expected to be signed by President Obama in the coming days, makes assistance under the “Foreign Military Financing Program” to the Arab Republic of Egypt contingent upon your certification that the government is upholding its obligations under the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty as well as the government’s support of “the transition to civilian government including holding free and fair elections; implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association and religion, and due process of law.”  I strongly supported the inclusion of this language in the bill and believe that we should not continue to fund a regime which violently suppresses its own people.

 

                However, the conference report also allows for the waiver of these conditions should you determine that it is in the national security interest of the United States.  While all decisions of this caliber should be made with the national security interest of the U.S. in mind, waiving conditionality would undermine the aspirations and prospects for liberal democracy in Egypt. 

 

                As you know, since the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) assumed control of the transition period sectarian tensions have reached an all time high, culminating in the massacre of dozens of protestors in the Maspero section of Cairo on October 9th.  Tens of thousands of Coptic Christians had taken to the streets to protest the interim military government’s failure to protect against attacks on their churches.  While the protests reportedly began peacefully, violence ensued after unidentified elements attacked the protestors.  Subsequently, the military further incited the situation and army personnel carriers plowed through the crowds, crushing protestors as soldiers fired on civilians.  While the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) promised an independent investigation into the deadly incident, no action has been taken to date.   

 

                Most recently, renewed violence has broken out in Tahrir Square as the military has sought to break up peaceful protests.  On December 19, The New York Times reported that 13 people have been killed since clashes began four days ago.  Furthermore, Gen. Adel Emara of the SCAF defiantly stated that protestors had intentionally provoked the military into clashes as part of a ploy “to destroy the state.”  It has been widely reported that the military has fired live rounds onto protestors and many female protestors claim that they were brutally sexually assaulted by members of the military.  The behavior of the SCAF and their unwillingness to call for an end to the ongoing violence in Tahrir Square is inexcusable and should not be rewarded with billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer money with no conditions attached.

 

                Again, I respectfully urge you to withhold funding from the Egyptian government until it is demonstrated that they are willing to live up to the commitments outlined in the conditions put forth and agreed to by the House and the Senate.  I appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your response.  

 

Sincerely,

     John R. Carter

               Member of Congress

 

 

 

 

U.S. Rep. John Carter

http://carter.house.gov/

31^st District of Texas

409 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Contact: John.Stone@mail.house.gov; (202) 225-3864