Mother of Jailed Activist Intensifies Hunger Strike to Advocate for Son's Release

Laila Soueif, a British-Egyptian professor, remains on a hunger strike for over eight months, determined to see the release of her son Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been imprisoned in Egypt since 2014. Despite severe health risks, Soueif has called on the UK government to take more decisive action to secure her son's freedom, raising awareness about political prisoners in Egypt.

Laila Soueif, the mother of jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, has vowed to continue her hunger strike, now approaching eight months, despite medical warnings about the severe risks to her health, including possible death. Speaking from St Thomas' hospital in London, the 69-year-old maths professor expresses a passionate commitment to live but insists she is willing to sacrifice her life to push for her son’s release from an Egyptian prison.

Alaa Abdel Fattah, a dual national, has been imprisoned for most of the last eleven years, with his latest five-year sentence stemming from his social media post regarding the death of another detainee. His mother argues that the Egyptian authorities have unjustly extended his sentence, denying him credit for prior detention. "He finished his sentence, for God's sake. It was an unfair sentence rendered by a kangaroo court," Laila states, expressing her frustration with the current situation.

After restarting her hunger strike on 20 May, following a temporary lifting of her strike after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's appeal to President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, Soueif has now refused all calories, relying only on herbal teas and rehydration salts. Her health significantly deteriorated, with hospital staff administering glucagon and intravenous electrolytes, yet she refuses glucose treatment, underscoring her unwavering stance.

Her daughter, Sanaa Seif, describes the situation as increasingly dire, saying her mother now speaks of saying farewell, instilling fear in the family. The United Nations recently recognized Abdel Fattah's arrest as a violation of freedom of expression, advocating for his immediate release. However, the Egyptian government has been reticent, even denying access to the British embassy.

Calls for more robust action from the UK government are mounting, with various MPs joining the family's appeal for pressure on Egypt. Sanaa expressed frustration that the government has not acted forcefully enough, emphasizing the need for her brother's release for the sake of their family, particularly his son Khaled.

"I'm proud of my mum. I'm scared for her," admits Sanaa, as she implores the government to act swiftly. The Foreign Office has indicated a commitment to securing Abdel Fattah's release, highlighting ongoing discussions at high levels with Egyptian officials.

Laila Soueif’s message, should she not survive, is clear: "Use my death as leverage to get Alaa out," she asserts, urging that her sacrifice should not be in vain, but serve to draw attention to the plight of political prisoners in Egypt and the challenges faced by British nationals abroad.