Mother’s Hunger Strike for Imprisoned Son Raises Urgency for…

Laila Soueif, mother of imprisoned activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, was hospitalized after nearly 150 days of hunger striking. This follows her protest against the continued detention of her son. A coalition of human rights organizations is urging the UK government to advocate for Abd el-Fattah’s release at the UN Human Rights Council, emphasizing the grave risk to Laila’s health and the ongoing repression in Egypt.

Laila Soueif, the mother of incarcerated activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, has been hospitalized just hours before the 150th day of her hunger strike aimed at protesting her son’s detention in Egypt. At 68 years old, she has lost nearly 30 kilograms since her strike commenced on September 29, following the failure of Egyptian authorities to release her son on his scheduled date. Soueif has been subsisting on herbal tea, black coffee, and rehydration salts during this period, which has taken a serious toll on her health.

Laila had a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on February 14, where he provided his ‘personal commitment’ towards securing the release of Abd el-Fattah. Her daughter expressed deep concern for Laila’s health, stating, “We are running out of time.” The deteriorating condition of Laila Soueif is alarming and reflects the urgent situation that should never have reached such a critical point, according to Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK.

In response to the ongoing situation, a coalition comprising 25 human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, is urging UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to advocate for Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s release at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The letter calls for the Secretary to utilize the HRC platform to denounce the oppressive actions of Egyptian authorities and support a joint statement demanding the release of Abd el-Fattah.

The letter emphasizes that the HRC provides an essential opportunity for countries to address Egypt’s ongoing repression, which has involved the arbitrary detention of numerous individuals, including journalists and peaceful protesters. The rights organizations express significant concern regarding the continued detention of Abd el-Fattah, particularly in light of the severe risks faced by his mother, who has been on a hunger strike since her son’s imprisonment began.

The severe health concerns of Laila Soueif, combined with the advocacy efforts from various human rights organizations, highlight the urgent need for international attention to the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah. Their call for action emphasizes the critical role of governmental intervention in addressing human rights violations in Egypt. This situation underscores the intersection of individual health crises and broader human rights advocacy efforts.

Original Source: www.amnesty.org