A group of Nobel laureates and activists has urged Egyptian President al-Sisi to release British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. Among the fifty signatories are Nobel winners Narges Mohammadi and Orhan Pamuk. His mother, Laila Soueif, is on a hunger strike demanding his release. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has raised the case with Sisi, instilling cautious optimism about a pardon for Abdel Fattah.
A collective of Nobel Prize laureates and prominent activists has formally urged Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to liberate British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, this appeal was signed by fifty notable figures, including Nobel laureates Narges Mohammadi and Orhan Pamuk, advocating for clemency towards the 43-year-old writer and human rights advocate.
Alaa Abdel Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif, has been on hunger strike for 156 days to demand her son’s release. The letter was also endorsed by notable authors Arundhati Roy and Elif Shafak, as well as representatives from organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, PEN International, and Human Rights Watch, collectively calling for a presidential pardon in this matter.
The letter expressed, “A presidential pardon is not just justice; it is an act of humanity. Let history remember not a tragedy, but a reunion: Alaa free, holding his son, and Laila Soueif breaking her fast with the family she so longs to be with.” Alaa Abdel Fattah is recognized as a pivotal figure in Egypt’s 2011 revolution, having been sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 for “spreading false news” regarding alleged torture in Egyptian prisons.
Currently hospitalized in London due to serious health complications, Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike since her son was due for release in September. She has, however, accepted glucose drips to stabilize her condition. The UK’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has taken up Abdel Fattah’s situation with President Sisi, leaving Soueif “cautiously optimistic” about a potential release.
The reactivation of Egypt’s presidential pardons committee in 2022 has led to the amnesty of several notable political prisoners, including Abdel Fattah’s lawyer, Mohamed al-Baqer.
In summary, the call for the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah by a coalition of Nobel laureates and human rights activists underscores the urgency for justice and humanity. With Laila Soueif’s prolonged hunger strike for her son’s freedom and the ongoing international attention, there is a growing hope for Abdel Fattah’s release, particularly in light of recent discussions between UK officials and Egyptian authorities. The situation highlights the broader issues of human rights and political freedoms in Egypt.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
