Egypt has released an Egyptian American woman who was imprisoned in Cairo for several years after Donald Trump struck a deal with the Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi.
Aya Hijazi, 30, a U.S. citizen and humanitarian worker, had been in prison for three years on child abuse and trafficking charges — which the U.S. dismissed as false — because she operated a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids on the street with her husband. Last week, an Egyptian court dropped all charges against her.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Trump sent a U.S. government airplane to bring Hijazi and her family back home Thursday night. They were reportedly personally escorted by Air Force Maj. Wes Spurlock, and landed in Washington about 10 p.m.
She is expected to visit the White House Friday.
“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions the past couple of days,” her brother told the Washington Post.
“We’re very grateful that President Trump personally engaged with the issue. Working closely with the Trump administration was very important for my family at this critical time. It let us be reunited as a family. We’re so grateful.”
(Photo: Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)
Trump hosted the Egyptian president at the White House in early April.
When asked if he would address human rights issues with Sisi during that visit, one official said at the time, “Our approach is to handle these types of sensitive issues in a private, more discreet way.”