Mother of Jailed Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah Threatens Renewed Hunger Strike
Laila Soueif has warned of returning to hunger strike by the end of March if her son’s situation remains unchanged.
Laila Soueif, the mother of British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, has announced that she may resume her hunger strike by the end of March if there is no substantial progress in efforts to secure her son's release from prison.
Soueif, 68, previously undertook a hunger strike for 150 days, ceasing only after being hospitalized for critical health issues.
While in the hospital, she was treated for dangerously low blood sugar levels, which led her to agree to a glucose drip and nutritional supplements to stabilize her condition.
Soueif's hunger strike began on September 29 of the previous year, during which her only intake consisted of herbal tea, black coffee, and rehydration salts.
She communicated her dire circumstances in a letter to the Egyptian ambassador in London, expressing concerns about her mortality and the possibility of her daughters needing to repatriate her remains to Egypt.
Recent medical assessments indicated that Soueif's condition has stabilized after her discharge from the hospital, yet she has witnessed little evidence of progress towards her son's release.
Abd el-Fattah, who has been incarcerated for over five years, is currently on hunger strike as well in solidarity with his mother, having started his own protest on February 1 after learning of her hospitalization.
The Egyptian authorities did not release him upon the completion of his sentence due to their disregard for the two years he spent in detention prior to his trial.
His family remains hopeful that he may be granted freedom as part of a broader amnesty linked to the end of Ramadan on March 30.
Laila Soueif has communicated that she will return to her hunger strike if no significant progress is recorded in the negotiations for her son’s release.
She has also expressed concern over the decrease in communication with the UK Foreign Office post a phone call made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, urging for Abd el-Fattah's release.
During this call, efforts were made to advocate for improved conditions for both mother and son.
One of Soueif's daughters, Sana’a, remarked on her mother's weakened physical state post-hospitalization and the declining frequency of updates from British officials regarding their ongoing advocacy efforts.
Meanwhile, Alaa Abd el-Fattah's requests for consular access to British diplomats have been delayed as Egypt continues to stall on recognizing his British citizenship.
In the UK Parliament, Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing Abd el-Fattah's release, stating: 'I will do everything I can, to ensure the release in this case, and that includes phone calls as necessary.'
Soueif, 68, previously undertook a hunger strike for 150 days, ceasing only after being hospitalized for critical health issues.
While in the hospital, she was treated for dangerously low blood sugar levels, which led her to agree to a glucose drip and nutritional supplements to stabilize her condition.
Soueif's hunger strike began on September 29 of the previous year, during which her only intake consisted of herbal tea, black coffee, and rehydration salts.
She communicated her dire circumstances in a letter to the Egyptian ambassador in London, expressing concerns about her mortality and the possibility of her daughters needing to repatriate her remains to Egypt.
Recent medical assessments indicated that Soueif's condition has stabilized after her discharge from the hospital, yet she has witnessed little evidence of progress towards her son's release.
Abd el-Fattah, who has been incarcerated for over five years, is currently on hunger strike as well in solidarity with his mother, having started his own protest on February 1 after learning of her hospitalization.
The Egyptian authorities did not release him upon the completion of his sentence due to their disregard for the two years he spent in detention prior to his trial.
His family remains hopeful that he may be granted freedom as part of a broader amnesty linked to the end of Ramadan on March 30.
Laila Soueif has communicated that she will return to her hunger strike if no significant progress is recorded in the negotiations for her son’s release.
She has also expressed concern over the decrease in communication with the UK Foreign Office post a phone call made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, urging for Abd el-Fattah's release.
During this call, efforts were made to advocate for improved conditions for both mother and son.
One of Soueif's daughters, Sana’a, remarked on her mother's weakened physical state post-hospitalization and the declining frequency of updates from British officials regarding their ongoing advocacy efforts.
Meanwhile, Alaa Abd el-Fattah's requests for consular access to British diplomats have been delayed as Egypt continues to stall on recognizing his British citizenship.
In the UK Parliament, Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing Abd el-Fattah's release, stating: 'I will do everything I can, to ensure the release in this case, and that includes phone calls as necessary.'