Nobel Laureates Petition for the Release of Alaa Abdel Fattah in Egypt
A coalition of Nobel laureates and activists urges Egyptian President Sisi to release Alaa Abdel Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist imprisoned for spreading false news. His mother has been on a hunger strike for over 150 days, demanding his freedom. The appeal highlights the humanitarian aspect of requesting a presidential pardon as a symbol of justice.
A coalition of prominent activists and Nobel Prize laureates has appealed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for the release of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. Among the fifty signatories are notable figures such as Nobel laureates Narges Mohammadi and Orhan Pamuk, who advocate for clemency for the 43-year-old human rights advocate. Abdel Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif, has undertaken a hunger strike lasting 156 days to solicit her son’s freedom.
The letter, which includes signatures from acclaimed authors like Arundhati Roy and Elif Shafak, alongside representatives from organizations like Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch, requests a presidential pardon. The letter poignantly asserts, “A presidential pardon is not just justice; it is an act of humanity.” It envisions a future where history recalls a reunion rather than a tragedy, depicting Abdel Fattah with his son and Soueif breaking her fast with her family.
Alaa Abdel Fattah, who played a pivotal role in Egypt’s 2011 revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 for spreading false information regarding alleged torture practices within Egyptian prisons. His mother, Laila Soueif, 68, has been hospitalized in London due to severe health complications arising from her ongoing hunger strike, which commenced in September.
Last week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised Abdel Fattah’s situation in a conversation with President Sisi, which led Soueif to express cautious optimism regarding her son’s potential release. Egypt’s presidential pardons committee, reinstated in 2022, has granted amnesty to several prominent political prisoners, including Abdel Fattah’s legal representative, Mohamed al-Baqer.
The appeal by Nobel laureates and activists underscores the urgent call for the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent human rights advocate. His mother’s prolonged hunger strike reflects the dire circumstances surrounding his incarceration. The involvement of international figures, including the UK Prime Minister, lends weight to the advocacy for a humanitarian resolution. The hope for Abdel Fattah’s release continues amidst ongoing discussions surrounding presidential pardons in Egypt.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
