Urgent Call for Release of Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah Amid Health Crisis
UN rights experts are urging Egypt to release activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, whose mother is on a hunger strike in protest of his detention. Abdel Fattah, a key opposition figure, is facing extended imprisonment on questionable charges. His mother’s health is declining, prompting concerns for her life, while UK officials strive for access to him.
A coalition of UN-affiliated rights experts has urged the Egyptian government to expedite the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah, a detained Egyptian-British activist. This call for action has become increasingly urgent due to the deteriorating health of his mother, Laila Soueif, who has been on a hunger strike for nearly five months, protesting her son’s imprisonment. Abdel Fattah, a prominent activist during the 2011 revolution and a persistent critic of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has reportedly been imprisoned on baseless terror charges for the past fourteen years.
Egyptian officials had indicated earlier that Abdel Fattah would be released upon finishing his five-year sentence in September; however, they now assert that he will remain incarcerated until 2027. In a statement, the rights experts requested his immediate release, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of his detention and the grave situation regarding his mother’s health. Laila Soueif, aged 68, was hospitalized in London after her condition worsened, and medical staff warned of an imminent risk to her life due to her refusal to accept food or medical treatment.
Moreover, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, have raised concerns about Abdel Fattah’s circumstances with Egyptian authorities, yet they have been unsuccessful in securing consular access to him. Following a family meeting, Starmer vowed to exhaust all efforts for Abdel Fattah’s release, highlighting that the authorities disregard the time he served in pre-trial detention.
Given the ongoing speculation about possible pardons for political prisoners in Egypt ahead of Ramadan, organizations like Amnesty International have urged the government to release those imprisoned on terror-related charges stemming from criticism of the regime. These developments coincide with calls for Egypt to uphold its commitments to human rights as outlined by international law.
In summary, the plight of Alaa Abdel Fattah has drawn international attention, particularly in light of his mother’s deteriorating health due to her hunger strike. Calls for his release underscore the concerns surrounding his detention and the broader implications for human rights in Egypt. The ongoing situation remains critical as both domestic and international advocates continue to press for justice and compliance with human rights standards.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
