The Biden administration said Monday it will withhold about 10% of the $1.3 billion in military aid the U.S. gives annually to Egypt, citing concerns over human rights violations. Nearly $1.2 billion of military assistance will continue to flow to Egypt despite serious allegations of human rights abuses against the government of dictator and U.S. ally Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

This comes as advocates are sounding the alarm on the worsening conditions faced by Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who was returned to prison in 2019 just six months after being freed following a five-year sentence. El-Fattah reportedly told Egyptian media, “My situation is horrible and I won’t be able to continue like this. Get me out of this prison, I will kill myself.” El-Fattah was a key leader in Egypt’s 2011 uprising.