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Trump Congratulates Egyptian President over Rigged Election Win

HeadlineApr 03, 2018

Egypt has formally declared authoritarian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi the winner of last week’s election with 97 percent of votes. Observers have blasted the election as a “sham” and a “farce.” Turnout was only about 40 percent. Sisi’s government allowed only one other candidate to run—an ardent Sisi supporter—while other candidates were disqualified or arrested. One leading opposition figure, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, was carjacked and beaten on a Cairo street in January ahead of the election. On Monday, the White House said President Trump called President Sisi to congratulate him on his victory. Human rights groups say that since Sisi came to power in a 2013 coup, his government has arrested 60,000 activists, deployed systematic torture and tried thousands of civilians in military courts, while handing down hundreds of death sentences.

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