Alaa Abd El Fattah's Mother on Hunger Strike for 151 Days: Health Risks Grow

Laila Soueif, mother of Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, has been on a hunger strike for 151 days, risking her life in the hope of prompting British governmental intervention for her son’s freedom.

Laila Soueif, mother of prominent British-Egyptian political prisoner Alaa Abd El Fattah, has been hospitalized after 151 days of a hunger strike, during which she has consumed only water, rehydration salts, and sugarless beverages. Her declining health has prompted medical warnings of a potential sudden death. The protest began in late September when it became clear her son, who had already served five years for sharing a Facebook post regarding prison conditions, would not be released as anticipated.

The 68-year-old mathematician and professor, who holds British citizenship, has been advocating for her son's release by urging the British government to leverage its diplomatic relationship with Egypt. “When people ask, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I say, ‘I’m creating a crisis,’” she expressed, underscoring the lengths she is willing to go for her son's freedom.

Despite her residency in Cairo, Soueif has spent considerable time in the UK during her strike and was admitted to a London hospital on Monday after her blood pressure and blood sugar levels dropped significantly. The global community has been watching her plight as it raises questions regarding political prisoners and human rights abuses within Egypt.