Mother of jailed British-Egyptian activist hospitalised after 242 days on hunger strike

Australia Broadcast Center

5 days ago

Jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah says he is "very worried" for his mother, who has been hospitalised after a 242-day hunger strike with family saying she is close to death.
Laila Soueif began the protest against her son's detention in September 29 last year, the day he was expected to be released after completing a five-year prison sentence.
She briefly eased to a partial hunger strike for two months, but resumed a full hunger strike more than a week ago.
The 69-year-old was hospitalised on Thursday in London with "critically low" blood sugar, her family saying she is refusing glucose treatment.
"Bottom line is, we're losing her, and … there is no time," daughter Sanaa Seif said.
She urged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "act now, not tomorrow" to ensure Mr Abd el-Fattah's release, saying her mother is dying.
"It's a miracle that we still have her," Ms Seif said.
Mr Abd el-Fattah, 43, is Egypt's most high-profile and influential political prisoner.
In 2019, he was arrested in Egypt and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "spreading false news" after sharing a Facebook post about police brutality.
In September last year, on the day he was due to be released, his mother began a full hunger strike, consuming only rehydration salts, tea without sugar, and vitamins.
She was first hospitalised in February this year with dangerously low blood sugar and blood pressure, prompting Mr Abd el-Fattah to start his own hunger strike from jail.
Ms Soueif eased her strike in February, consuming 300 calories a day, after Mr Starmer said he had "pressed" his Egyptian counterpart for her son's release.
But on May 20, despite her family claiming she had lost more than 40 per cent of her body weight, Ms Soueif resumed her full hunger strike.
Two days later, Mr Starmer's office said the prime minister had once again called the Egyptian president, pressing for Mr Abd el-Fattah's release.
Mr Abd el-Fattah is aware his mother has been hospitalised for a second time, and wrote from his prison cell to say he's "very worried" for her.
A United Nations panel of experts on Wednesday determined his detention was arbitrary and illegal and called for his immediate release.
Peter Greste is an Australian reporter and executive director of the Alliance for Journalists' Freedom, and was jailed alongside Mr Abd el-Fattah in 2013.
He has previously credited the political prisoner with "saving his life", saying Mr Abd el-Fattah helped him get through the darkest days of his 400-day incarceration in Cairo.
Professor Greste said Mr Abd el-Fattah is enduring "brutally hot" temperatures in a non-air-conditioned prison cell, with "very little medical care" during his hunger strike.
"And he's going to be under enormous psychological pressure because he knows his mother is also in a very, very precarious situation," Professor Greste said.
He said it was crucial international governments also pressed for Mr Abd el-Fattah's release.
"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for much wider international support, so I really do hope the Australian government will step up and get involved," he said.
ABC/AFP