Last weekend Egyptian-American aid worker Aya Hijazi, who had become an global symbol of Sisi's harsh crackdown on aid groups, was cleared of child abuse and human trafficking charges in Cairo after three years in detention.
Trump was briefed on Hijazi's case early in his term and directed his national security team to take steps to secure her release, he said. -Egyptian citizen, is acquitted by an Egyptian court after almost three years of detention over accusations related to running a foundation dedicated to helping street children, Cairo, Sunday, April 16, 2017. The Obama administration tried, and failed, to pressure Sissi to free them.
30-year-old Egyptian/American Aya Hijazi shook hands in the Oval Office with President Trump Friday.
The administration had quietly negotiated Hijazi's release in recent weeks, according to the Washington Post.
Hijazi, 30, has dual citizenship in the USA and Egypt.
"I just want to let everybody know in case there was any doubt that we are very much behind President Sisi", Trump said.
"We are very happy to have Aya back home", Trump told reporters Friday after refusing to answer questions about the matter.
The official said assurances had been made at the "highest levels" of the Sissi government that "Egypt would use presidential authority to send her home", the Washington Post reported.
Centrist Macron, far-right Le Pen in battle to lead France
But, without an established party apparatus other than his newly constituted En Marche! ("Forwards!") has never before been elected to public office.
She was acquitted by a Cairo court on Sunday along with seven others who had worked with street children.
The release of the six was an advance in relations between the United States and Egypt, which have been rocky.
Local and global rights groups have criticised the case, alleging a lack of evidence and complaining about the prolonged pre-trial detention.
When Hijazi, Hassanein and five other people were arrested, Hijazi was hit during her interrogation.
After that meeting came a break in the Hijazi case, and most analysts see a direct link between the two.
Hijazi will meet with Trump, as well as Jared and Ivanka Kushner, later today at the White House.
Between the lines: Trump's focus on repairing relations between the USA and foreign countries has helped him become more successful with his global policy goals.
Comments