Laila Soueif, a 69-year-old mathematics professor, is enduring a harrowing hunger strike in a London hospital, determined to fight for her son, Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been imprisoned in Egypt for nearly a decade. As her health deteriorates, with doctors warning of serious risks after eight months without food, Soueif remains unwavering in her resolve to advocate for her son, calling on UK leadership to pressure Egypt for his release.
Mother of Jailed Activist Persists in Hunger Strike Despite Grim Prognosis
Mother of Jailed Activist Persists in Hunger Strike Despite Grim Prognosis
Laila Soueif, the mother of jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, is risking her life by continuing her hunger strike, demanding her son's release from an Egyptian prison.
Soueif began her hunger strike in September 2024 when her son's sentence was supposed to end, frustrated by the Egyptian judiciary's refusal to acknowledge time spent in pre-trial detention. Her son, a prominent pro-democracy figure, has faced harsh conditions in prison, and the family fears that he has become a political pawn. Following multiple health scares, her daughter, Sanaa Seif, expressed deep concern over their mother's wellbeing. The situation drew international attention when a UN panel denounced Abdel Fattah's imprisonment as a violation of his right to free expression. The UK government is under pressure to intervene, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledging the urgency of the matter.
In the face of her deteriorating condition, Laila Soueif insists that she will only stop her hunger strike once Alaa is free, emphasizing that her struggle is not only for her son but for all those unjustly imprisoned in Egypt.
In the face of her deteriorating condition, Laila Soueif insists that she will only stop her hunger strike once Alaa is free, emphasizing that her struggle is not only for her son but for all those unjustly imprisoned in Egypt.
