Laila Soueif has been on a hunger strike for 74 days to advocate for her son, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who remains imprisoned in Egypt after being sentenced for spreading false news. The mother urges the UK government, particularly Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to act swiftly to secure her son’s release, fearing for her own health as she continues her protest outside the Foreign Office.
Laila Soueif, the mother of imprisoned British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, has entered her 74th day of hunger strike to demand her son’s release from a Cairo prison, where he has been detained since September 29, 2019. Abd El-Fattah, 43, was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly spreading false news, a decision met with widespread criticism concerning his treatment and the conditions of his imprisonment. Soueif has stepped up her protest by sitting outside the Foreign Office in London daily, urging UK officials, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to take decisive action toward securing her son’s freedom.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a noted advocate for democracy in Egypt, has spent a significant portion of the last decade in prison, primarily due to his outspoken criticism of the Egyptian government. His continued imprisonment has not only drawn attention but has also ignited a passionate response from his family and human rights advocates. Laila Soueif’s hunger strike is a testament to the urgent and desperate measures taken by families of individuals wrongfully detained, highlighting the broader issues of political repression in Egypt and the responsibilities of foreign governments in addressing the welfare of their nationals abroad.
The plight of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, as highlighted by his mother’s ongoing hunger strike, underscores the significant challenges faced by pro-democracy activists in Egypt. Laila Soueif’s determination reflects the urgent need for the UK government to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure her son’s release. As Ms. Soueif emphasizes, time is of the essence, and it is imperative for British officials to respond actively and effectively in addressing the grave circumstances surrounding her son’s wrongful detention.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
