US reverses decision to honour Egyptian woman activist in light of anti-US, anti-Semitic tweets
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is postponing an award for an Egyptian activist who was subjected to a “virginity test” after protesting in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
The State Department had said Samira Ibrahim would be among recipients of an International Women of Courage award presented by Secretary of State John Kerry and first lady Michelle Obama on Friday.
Now the State Department says she won’t be honoured Friday because of anti-American and anti-Semitic comments on her Twitter account.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Thursday officials will first study the tweets, which include support for attacks against U.S. diplomatic installations and praise for a terrorist assault against Israeli citizens in Bulgaria.
Ibrahim is already in the U.S. She says her account was hacked, though the comments stretch back several months.
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.