Washington—Representatives Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chairman of the Committee’s Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade Subcommittee, today issued the following statement on the Egyptian release of U.S. citizen Mohamed Amashah:

“We welcome the release of U.S. citizen Mohamed Amashah from Egyptian prison. Mr. Amashah, a medical student from Jersey City, NJ, was detained by Egyptian security services at a peaceful protest in March 2019 and held for over a year awaiting trial. Mr. Amashah was accused of nothing more than an act of peaceful expression that is protected under international law.

“The release of Mr. Amashah also highlights the thousands of other prisoners, including Americans, currently held in Egyptian prisons—often in overcrowded and abusive conditions—on politicized and unjust charges. Especially given the threat of COVID, we call on the Egyptian government to grant humanitarian parole to those with medical conditions and release those detained in violation of internationally protected rights and freedoms.”

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