The mother of a prominent Egyptian rights activist has started a hunger strike to pressure authorities to release her son, Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who gained recognition through his involvement in the 2011 pro-democracy movements that swept through the Middle East and led to the ousting of long-time President Hosni Mubarak.
Laila Soueif, mother of the imprisoned activist, announced in a statement that her 42-year-old son should have been released after completing a five-year prison sentence by September 29. Alaa Abdel-Fattah, known for his outspoken views, has spent the majority of the last decade in detention, symbolizing Egypt’s descent back into autocratic governance under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
Initially sentenced in 2014 for participating in an unauthorised protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer, Abdel-Fattah was released in 2019 after serving a five-year term. However, he was rearrested later that year amidst a government crackdown following rare anti-government demonstrations. Subsequently, in late 2021, he received another five-year sentence for spreading false news.
His family argues that his time in pre-trial detention should be considered in his current sentence as per Egypt’s penal code. Concerns have been raised about his continued detention, with 59 Egyptian and international rights organisations signing a petition expressing worries that Abdel-Fattah, who acquired a UK passport in 2022, may not be released until 2027.
Efforts have been made by his family to secure his release over the years, including appeals for support from the UK government. In 2022, Abdel-Fattah conducted a hunger strike in prison aligning with the start of the UN climate conference, COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The strike was halted after he collapsed and lost consciousness, drawing attention to Egypt’s severe restrictions on freedom of expression and political activism.
Egypt has faced criticism for its extensive crackdown on dissenters and critics since 2013, with human rights organisations estimating that tens of thousands of political prisoners are currently held in Egyptian jails.
The family of Alaa Abdel-Fattah, along with supporters, continue to advocate for his freedom and call for international attention to his case and that of other political detainees in Egypt.