Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Kay Granger, Chairwoman of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the conviction and sentencing of 43 non-governmental organization workers in an Egyptian court:

“The verdicts handed down to the NGO staff are outrageous because the sole purpose of these NGO’s was to help strengthen Egypt’s civil society and democracy. The United States has actively supported a secure and peaceful Egypt, but Egypt must live up to its end of the bargain and be committed to democracy and the rule of law.  These verdicts directly contradict this goal.”