Laila Soueif, the mother of imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, has embarked on a hunger strike to pressure the UK government to secure her son’s release from an Egyptian prison.
Abdel Fattah, who was granted British citizenship in 2022, was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison for “spreading false news.” His family contends that he should have been released in September after serving his full sentence.
Soueif, a 68-year-old human rights activist, has been on a hunger strike for over 50 days. Despite the physical toll, she remains resolute in her demand for her son’s freedom.
She expressed deep concern over Abdel Fattah’s deteriorating mental state, stating that he has lost hope for a future outside of prison. Soueif believes that the UK government, with its influence over Egypt, has the power to intervene and secure his release.
She is scheduled to meet with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on November 27 to discuss her son’s case. Soueif is hopeful that the meeting will yield concrete results and that the UK government will take decisive action.