The alleged torture and sexual assault by police of a young Egyptian pro-democracy activist has put the spotlight back on President Hosni Mubarak’s rights record as the US Congress prepares to debate a $1.7bn (€1.33bn, £900m) aid package to Egypt.

Mohamed el Sharkawy, a blogger and journalist, was picked up by police after participating in a small demonstration outside the press syndicate in Cairo amid a continuing crackdown on secular and Islamist dissent.