Washington, Oct 18 (AP) A veteran senator's objections over Egypt's human rights record, including its holding of an estimated 60,000 political prisoners, have compelled the Biden administration to trim a symbolically significant USD 75 million off its planned annual military aid to that country.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy, the senator responsible, said in a statement Monday it was important that US administrations not allow other policy interests to override congressionally mandated attention to Egypt's poor human rights record, "because the situation facing political prisoners in Egypt is deplorable."

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The US gives more than USD 1 billion in military aid annually to Egypt, which it views as a regionally important ally to the US and Israel. That's despite President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's record on human rights, including what rights groups say is the killing, imprisonment and torture of critics of the Egyptian government.

Congress in recent years has made the US payment of USD 300 million of that aid contingent on Egypt's government showing progress on rights, although the State Department can and often does overrule that requirement. Congress's conditioning of some of Egypt's security aid makes for an annual public test of US administrations' balancing of strategic interests and human rights.

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The Biden administration said last month it planned to give a portion, USD 170 million, of that USD 300 million. It cited Egypt's release of 500 political prisoners. Rights advocates, and family members of imprisoned activists called Egypt's releases a token.

Leahy objected to the administration's decision, urging State to either clarify its standards on the matter or give the money as scholarships to Egyptian students or as military aid to Ukraine, Leahy spokesman David Carle said. The funding remained at an impasse until it hit a September 30 spending deadline, and expired.

Egyptian news organisation Mada Masr first reported the partial block of funding by a senator it did not identify. Reuters first reported it was Leahy.

In a statement Monday, the State Department said, "We will continue to consult closely with Congress as we engage on human rights with the Egyptian government and seek tangible steps to address the concerns shared by the administration and the Congress." (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)