US Security Official Meets With Family of American Detained in Egypt

A senior US national security official met with the family of an American aid worker who is being detained by Egyptian authorities, the White House said on Friday in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — According to the release, Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines met today at the White House with the family of Aya Hijazi, a US-Egyptian dual citizen who was detained in Egypt while doing humanitarian work and has been held in prison for over two years.

Haines reiterated President Barack Obama’s “deep concern” for the well-being of all US citizens held abroad “and assured Hijazi’s family that the United States will continue to offer all possible consular assistance,” the release said.

It added that the United States is calling on Egypt’s government to drop all charges against Hijazi and release her from prison.

Hijazi has been held without a trial since May 2014 after being arrested in Cairo with her husband and four other people in connection with their operation of a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping homeless children.