Merkel Spars With Egyptian Leader in Tumultuous Press Conference

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sparred with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi over the death penalty during a raucous Berlin press conference that descended into shouts and chants from visiting journalists.

Merkel criticized Egypt’s human rights record and condemned what she called the country’s “high number” of death sentences. Her remarks prompted a sharp response from El-Sisi, who defended his military as the “guardian of the people” and referred to his fight against “religious fascism.”