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STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN McCAIN EXPRESSING OUTRAGE AT THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT’S TREATMENT OF AMERICAN NGOS
January 26, 2012
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today released the following statement expressing outrage at the Egyptian government’s treatment of American non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are working peacefully and transparently to support civil society in Egypt:
“I have watched with growing alarm and outrage how the Egyptian government is treating U.S. non-governmental organizations that are working peacefully and transparently to support civil society in Egypt. One month ago, Egyptian officials raided the offices of these groups, harassed and intimidated their American and Egyptian staff, confiscated their property, and made unfounded allegations that endanger the safety of everyone who works for these organizations in Egypt. Though all of these NGOs, such as the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, and Freedom House have, made every effort to comply with Egyptian laws and register their organizations with the Egyptian government, Egyptian officials have for several years now failed to allow these groups to register, despite repeated promises to do so.
“This crisis has taken a new and disturbing turn with reports that the Egyptian government is prohibiting employees of these NGOs, including American citizens, from leaving the country. One of these citizens is Sam LaHood, the son of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. It is worrying enough that Sam and his fellow NGO workers have been singled out by name in Egyptian state-owned media; it is outrageous that these individuals would be held against their will by Egyptian authorities and prohibited from leaving the country. These individuals and the organizations that employ them have broken no laws, and indeed, have made every effort to comply with the statutes, regulations, and requests of the Egyptian government. I fear for the safety of all of the employees of these NGOs – Americans, Egyptians and others, especially those who have been barred from leaving the country. As the Chairman of the International Republican Institute, this is a matter of special personal concern to me.
“I call on the Egyptian government and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to cease the harassment and unwarranted investigations of American NGOs operating in Egypt, to register these groups immediately, to return all of the property confiscated in the raids against these organizations, to end the intimidation of their employees by Egyptian officials, and to permit those members of these groups who wish to leave the country to do so. I deeply regret that this crisis has escalated to the point that it now endangers the lives of American citizens and could set back the long-standing partnership between the United States and Egypt.”
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