Sister Mona Seif (front left) and mother Laila Soueif (centre right) of 40-year-old British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah, take part in a vigil for the jailed pro-democracy activist who has been incarcerated in Egypt for most of the past decade, outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Westminster, London, calling on the UK government to urgently press for his release from jail in Egypt, July 3, 2023
A JAILED British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist feels “hurt” by Sir Keir Starmer not raising his case with his Egyptian counterpart, his family said today.
Campaigners have urged the Prime Minister to step up his efforts to help free Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been detained since 2019 and is unable to see his young son, who lives in Brighton.
Human rights experts, including Amnesty International secretary-general Agnes Callamard, have written to Sir Keir insisting that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi can “resolve this case with the stroke of a pen” and they are “convinced” the PM’s direct intervention is needed.
Succession actor Brian Cox, addressing Sir Keir in a video message, also said: “It’s time to make the call, Prime Minister.
“Pick up the phone and bring Alaa home for Christmas. We’re counting on you.”
In December 2021, Mr Abd El-Fattah was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news and the Free Alaa campaign says he should have been released in September this year based on his time served behind bars since 2019.
His mother, Laila Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 85 days and will continue her action in London until she hears news about her son being released or “she collapses and is hospitalised.”
