Laila Soueif, mother of jailed activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, is on a hunger strike for over 70 days, urging UK officials to secure her son’s release from prison in Egypt, where he has been detained since 2019. She is demanding attention from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, amidst worries over the British government’s insufficient response to his case.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian pro-democracy advocate, has been imprisoned in Egypt since September 29, 2019, sentenced to five years for allegedly spreading false news. His mother, Laila Soueif, aged 68, has been on a hunger strike for 74 days, demanding assistance from the British government, specifically urging Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, to intervene in her son’s situation. This escalation of her protest includes daily sit-ins at the Foreign Office in London, with the aim of raising awareness and securing a response from the government regarding Alaa’s case.
Ms. Soueif expressed her desperation, stating, “I will visit the Foreign Office every day to wait for news, in the hope that the UK Government will finally secure Alaa’s release,” and emphasized the urgency by noting, “I need David Lammy and Keir Starmer to free my son, before I collapse or am hospitalised.” The campaign advocating for Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s release continues, highlighting that time is of the essence as the mother intends to persist until she receives news of her son’s situation.
The Foreign Office has indicated ongoing efforts to secure Mr. Abd El-Fattah’s release, yet there are concerns that the British government has not sufficiently prioritized his case amid diplomatic relations with Egypt. Karla McLaren, the head of government affairs at Amnesty International UK, remarked on the tragic circumstances faced by Ms. Soueif, noting, “It’s heartbreaking that Laila is having to put herself through this ordeal in order to win Alaa’s freedom, a prisoner of conscience who should never have been jailed in the first place.” The family and advocates for Mr. Abd El-Fattah are urging more decisive action from the British government, especially concerning diplomatic strategies aimed at assisting UK nationals who become arbitrarily detained abroad.
The article discusses the plight of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist imprisoned in Egypt, highlighting the actions taken by his mother, Laila Soueif, who has resorted to a hunger strike as a form of protest against the UK government’s perceived inaction. The context of Abd El-Fattah’s imprisonment stems from his vocal criticism of the Egyptian government, reflecting broader issues regarding human rights and political freedom in Egypt. The urgent call for intervention from high-ranking UK officials underscores the tensions between diplomatic relations and the rights of detained citizens.
In summary, Laila Soueif’s hunger strike underscores the urgent appeal for the UK government to take actionable steps toward securing the release of her son, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been unjustly imprisoned in Egypt. Despite assurances from the Foreign Office regarding ongoing diplomatic efforts, advocates express concern that more robust actions are necessary to prioritize the cases of arbitrarily detained individuals. The continuing struggle highlights the significant challenges faced by families seeking justice for their loved ones in politically charged environments.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
