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| Samira Ibrahim |
(Scroll down for video) Michelle Obama was set to honor a woman who in the past praised terror attacks, praised Adolf Hitler, and said that news of dead Israelis is sweet, according to press reports in the United States.
Now, in an embarrassing about-face, the U.S. said it would delay a prestigious award given to an Egyptian activist after reviewing reports that she had made anti-U.S. and anti-Jewish statements.
Samira Ibrahim was to be honored Friday along with nine other women with the International Women Courage Award in an event to be held with the top U.S. diplomat, John Kerry, and first lady Michelle Obama.
The annual award on the occasion of International Women's Day is given to women with "exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk," according to the State Department.
Ibrahim had been initially chosen "for her incredible bravery and courage shown at the time of the Tahrir Square protests," a State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, said.
She acknowledged that the department "realized too late in the process of Samira Ibrahim’s alleged comments.”
"After careful consideration we have decided that we should postpone the presentation of this award to Ibrahim this year, so we have the opportunity to delve into these statements," she told reporters.
According to Ibrahim’s twitter account she said: "There was an explosion on a bus carrying Israelis in the airport of Burgas in Bulgaria near the Black Sea. Today is very sweet with a lots of news very sweet."
She also allegedly wrote on September 11: "Today is the anniversary of 9/11. May it come to America every year burning." She has also praised Adolf Hitler in the past, according to press reports.Mobile video not loading? Click here to view
