U.S. Welcomes Release of Egyptian Activist Ahmed Douma

The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that Secretary Antony Blinken spoke on Monday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and welcomed the release of activist Ahmed Douma and others in recent days. Egyptian television reported on Saturday that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a pardon for prominent activist Douma and a number of prisoners. The U.S. State Department said in a statement, "The Secretary welcomed the recent release of activist Ahmed Douma and others and reiterated the importance of progress in human rights to strengthen the U.S.-Egypt partnership." Douma was one of the most prominent faces of the pro-democracy uprising that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. He was arrested ten years ago and sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2019 after being charged with rioting and assaulting security forces. Last month, authorities also released human rights researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer following Sisi's pardon. Since late 2021, Egypt has taken several steps it claims are aimed at addressing human rights issues, including pardoning some prominent prisoners. In May, authorities launched a national dialogue aimed at discussing the country’s political, social, and economic future. Critics say these are just cosmetic measures and that arrests continue. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decision to pardon some condemned individuals, including political activist Ahmed Douma, after he spent 10 years in detention serving a 15-year sentence in the "Cabinet Events" case from 2011 following the January 25 revolution.