[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E861-E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS FOR NON-VIOLENT POLITICAL PROTESTORS IN EGYPT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the dire 
condition of an American political prisoner in Egypt, Mohamed Soltan.
  Mohamed is an Egyptian-American citizen who grew up in the United 
States. He graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in 
economics.
  The Arab Spring inspired Mohamed to support democracy, freedom, and 
human rights in Egypt. Last year he joined thousands of peaceful 
protestors in Egypt to oppose the military coup that toppled the 
government of Mohamed Morsi.
  While demonstrating in Rabba Square last August, the Egyptian 
military shot him in the arm. He was treated in a makeshift clinic with 
no anesthetic medication.
  Mohamed was one of the lucky ones that day. Hundreds of unarmed 
demonstrators were killed and thousands were injured.
  Shortly after being shot, Mohamed was arrested by Egyptian 
authorities for protesting.

[[Page E862]]

From his jail cell he continues to protest the repression of pro-
democracy advocates in Egypt.
  Mohamed has been on a hunger strike. He has lost almost half of his 
body weight and can no longer stand.
  Mr. Speaker, I am here to give voice to the struggle for human rights 
and real democracy in Egypt.
  The United States should stand on the side of those like Mohamed who 
are striving for human rights and democracy in the Middle East.

                          ____________________