Laila Soueif, mother of jailed activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, is hospitalized after nearly 150 days of hunger strike, losing 30 kg. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured her of his commitment to Alaa’s release. A coalition of 25 organizations has urged UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to advocate for Alaa’s freedom at the UN Human Rights Council, emphasizing the need to condemn Egypt’s oppression.
Laila Soueif, the mother of imprisoned activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, has recently been hospitalized shortly before marking the 150th day of her hunger strike against her son’s detention in Egypt. At the age of 68, she has lost approximately 30 kg since commencing her strike on September 29th, living solely on herbal tea, black coffee, and rehydration salts since then. The urgency of her situation has escalated after her blood pressure and blood sugar levels fell dangerously low, prompting her hospitalization at St. Thomas’ Hospital.
Amid the crisis, Laila met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on February 14th, where he assured her of his personal commitment to facilitating Alaa’s release. Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s sister, Mona Seif, expressed the critical nature of the situation, stating, “We are running out of time.” Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, voiced concern over Laila’s declining health, emphasizing that the circumstances should never have escalated to this level.
The day following Laila’s hospitalization, a coalition of 25 organizations, including Amnesty International, urged UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to leverage his presence at the UN Human Rights Council to advocate for Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s liberation. The coalition, working through FairSquare, has called for a robust stance against the ongoing repression in Egypt, emphasizing the need to condemn arbitrary detentions and the suppression of dissent.
In their open letter, the organizations highlighted that the UN Human Rights Council provides a platform for states to confront Egypt’s oppressive measures. They expressed deep concern regarding Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s continued imprisonment, which has persisted beyond his unjust five-year sentence, especially as it poses severe health risks to his mother, who has been enduring a hunger strike since his original release date.
Laila Soueif’s hunger strike has drawn significant attention to the plight of her son, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, amidst escalating fears for her health. The ongoing support from human rights organizations highlights the urgency for international intervention against the Egyptian government’s oppressive tactics. With her health deteriorating and the deadline for Alaa’s release having passed, the situation remains dire and critical.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
