UK Prime Minister Calls for the Release of Activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah from Egyptian Prison

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged the release of activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah from Egyptian prison. Fattah has been jailed since 2019, and his family contends his trial was a farce. Laila Soueif, Fattah’s mother, has been on a prolonged hunger strike to demand his freedom. Sanaa Seif, his sister, emphasizes the need for immediate action from Starmer.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to release Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British citizen and activist imprisoned in Cairo since 2019. Starmer emphasized the significance of this issue during a recent telephone conversation with President Sisi. Furthermore, Starmer has previously engaged with Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif, to address concerns regarding her son’s situation.

Alaa Abd El-Fattah, 43, is a well-known pro-democracy advocate who was arrested by Egyptian authorities in September 2019 and sentenced to five years for allegedly “spreading false news.” In recognition of his British heritage, he received citizenship in 2022 through his mother, who was born in the UK. His family has condemned the judicial proceedings against him as unjust, demanding his immediate release, asserting he has fulfilled his sentence.

Laila Soueif, aged 68, has been protesting her son’s incarceration by engaging in a hunger strike that has now reached 152 days. Unfortunately, she was recently hospitalized in London due to dangerously low blood sugar and sodium levels. Despite the risk to her health, she reluctantly accepted a glucose drip, urged by her daughter, to extend her life temporarily.

Soueif has experienced significant health deterioration, losing approximately 30 kilograms (66 pounds) during her strike. She remains steadfast in her commitment to continue the protest until her son is liberated. In conjunction with her hunger strike, Soueif has organized daily demonstrations outside Prime Minister Starmer’s office, advocating for Fattah’s release.

Sanaa Seif, Fattah’s sister, has implored Prime Minister Starmer to act swiftly, expressing concerns about her mother’s well-being and the potential urgency of their situation. She has called for immediate actions to secure her brother’s release from prison, highlighting the critical nature of this moment.

In summary, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pressed for the release of activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah from incarceration in Egypt, following discussions with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. His family, notably his mother Laila Soueif, has protested against his imprisonment through a lengthy hunger strike. The family claims the trial was unjust and seeks urgent intervention from the Prime Minister as concerns for Soueif’s health grow amidst her ongoing protest.

Original Source: newscentral.africa