Nobel laureates and activists have requested the release of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Fifty individuals signed a letter underscoring the need for a presidential pardon, especially given the hunger strike of Abdel Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif. This situation has caught international attention, including that of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
A coalition of Nobel Prize winners and renowned activists has appealed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for the release of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. This call was reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Fifty notable figures, including Nobel laureates Narges Mohammadi and Orhan Pamuk, signed a letter advocating for clemency for the 43-year-old advocate for human rights. His mother, Laila Soueif, has been on a hunger strike for 156 days in her quest for his release.
The letter, co-signed by prominent authors such as Arundhati Roy and Elif Shafak, as well as organizations like Reporters Without Borders, PEN International, and Human Rights Watch, urged for a presidential pardon. “A presidential pardon is not just justice; it is an act of humanity,” the letter expressed. It further emphasized a hopeful vision of familial reunion, stating that history should remember Alaa as free with his son and Laila Soueif ending her fast with loved ones.
Abdel Fattah was instrumental in Egypt’s 2011 revolution, which resulted in the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak. He received a five-year prison sentence in 2019 for “spreading false news” regarding alleged torture practices in Egyptian prisons. His mother, Soueif, now 68, began her hunger strike in September, coinciding with her son’s anticipated release date. She is currently hospitalized in London, suffering from critically low blood pressure and blood sugar levels while reluctantly accepting glucose drips since Friday.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed Abdel Fattah’s situation during a conversation with Sisi last week. Soueif expressed her cautious optimism about the possibility of her son’s release following this interaction. Egypt’s presidential pardons committee, which was reinstated in 2022, has granted amnesty to various prominent political prisoners, including Abdel Fattah’s legal representative, Mohamed al-Baqer.
In summary, a collective of Nobel laureates and activists is advocating for the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah, appealing directly to President Sisi. His mother’s ongoing hunger strike and the recent conversation between UK Prime Minister Starmer and Sisi have intensified the focus on Abdel Fattah’s case. With the historical context of Abdel Fattah’s role in the 2011 revolution and the activation of the pardons committee, there lies a glimmer of hope for his release.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
