U.K. Prime Minister Calls for Release of Jailed Activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Egyptian President Sisi to release Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British citizen and activist imprisoned since 2019. Laila Soueif, Fattah’s mother, has been on a hunger strike for 152 days, resulting in her hospitalization. The family describes the trial as a farce and continues to advocate for his release, citing the urgency of their situation.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pressed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi regarding the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British citizen and activist imprisoned in Cairo since 2019. Downing Street confirmed that Starmer raised the issue during a recent phone call with President Sisi, advocating for Fattah’s freedom. Starmer had earlier met with Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif, to discuss her son’s situation.
A prominent pro-democracy campaigner, Fattah, 43, was arrested in September 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly “spreading false news.” He was a key figure in Egypt’s 2011 revolution and obtained British citizenship in 2022 through his mother, who was born in the U.K. His family describes the trial as a farce and asserts that he has already completed his sentence.
Laila Soueif, aged 68, has been on a hunger strike for 152 days to protest her son’s imprisonment, resulting in her hospitalization in London due to critically low blood sugar and sodium levels. Despite the life-threatening risks, she has consented to receive a glucose drip to extend her life at her daughter’s request. However, medical professionals have indicated that this measure is temporary and her condition remains precarious.
Soueif has lost nearly 30 kilograms (66 pounds) during her protest and remains resolute in her demands for her son’s release. Additionally, she has maintained a daily demonstration outside Starmer’s office in London, advocating for Fattah’s freedom. Sanaa Seif, Fattah’s sister, has called upon Starmer to take immediate action, expressing concern that this may be a critical moment to persuade her mother to sustain the protest for her brother’s behalf.
In summary, Prime Minister Starmer’s advocacy for Alaa Abd El-Fattah reflects growing international pressure for his release. Laila Soueif’s hunger strike underscores the dire personal stakes involved in the family’s battle for justice. The situation remains urgent, and the family’s plea for action continues to resonate.
The call by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah highlights a significant human rights concern involving a British citizen detained in Egypt. Laila Soueif’s ongoing hunger strike illustrates the extreme measures families may resort to when fighting for justice. The urgency of the situation invites further attention and action from international leaders in the pursuit of Fattah’s freedom.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
