Senior US diplomat criticizes treatment of journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah: The US State Department’s chief diplomat for the Middle East described the treatment of activist journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah as “outrageous” during a congressional hearing, Reuters reports. Abdel Fattah was detained by authorities earlier this month in connection to the recent protests, and later claimed that she had been subjected to torture while in police custody. “I met her several times, I think it is outrageous. Know that I’ve had the Egyptian ambassador in my office last week to talk about Esraa… “Egypt has a long way to go on human rights,” said David Schenker, assistant secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.