Latest news with #BritishEgyptian
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Laila Soueif: Jailed British-Egyptian activist's mother in hospital after 242-day hunger strike
The mother of a jailed British-Egyptian activist has been hospitalised after resuming a hunger strike to campaign for his release. Laila Soueif's daughter has implored Sir Keir Starmer to 'act now' after her mother was hospitalised on Thursday after resuming a full hunger strike on May 20. 'Keir Starmer needs to act now. Not tomorrow, not Monday. Now. Right now it's a miracle that last night passed. It's a miracle that we still have her,' Sanaa Seif said. Mrs Soueif has been refusing food for 242 days in protest against the imprisonment of her son, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a British -Egyptian activist jailed for sharing a Facebook post about torture in Egypt. A spokesperson from the Foreign Office said: 'We are concerned to hear of Laila's hospitalisation. We remain in regular contact with Laila and her family and have checked on her welfare. We are committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release and continue to press this at the highest levels of the Egyptian government.'
FACT
07-03-2025
- Business
- FACT
Sarah Hamouda on IWD: Founder of social media sensation FIX Dessert Chocolatier
It took one woman, a lot of hard work and a TikTok video with more than 100 million views (and counting) to create the social media sensation, FIX Dessert Chocolatier. Founder and CEO, British Egyptian Sarah Hamouda, lived in the United Kingdom and moved to the United Arab Emirates. Following pregnancy cravings, the #DubaiChocolate trend was born – a chunky bar with Jackson Pollock-style specs, and a gorgeous, gooey filling. Can't Get Knafeh has launched a thousand copycats. If you want the OG – along with some amazing advice – Sarah shared her story in honour of International Women's Day. FIX is all about creating an experience. We take beloved Middle Eastern and global desserts and transform them into dessert chocolate bars with unexpected textures and flavours. Every bar tells a story, whether it's the crunch of knafeh, silkiness of mahalabia or the comforting richness of a brownie. It's about more than just chocolate, it's about bringing joy and nostalgia to every bite. It was surreal. I always believed in my vision and in FIX, but seeing others fall in love with our bars in such an overwhelming way was incredible. The messages, excitement and the way people resonated with the flavours were beyond anything I had imagined. More than anything, it reinforced that people crave something different, something bold, and that's exactly what we aim to deliver. It's flattering. If people are trying to replicate what we do, it means we're doing something right. Innovation is in our DNA. We don't just create flavours, we create experiences. An imitation can mimic an ingredient, but it can't replicate the passion, craft or connection we have with our customers. A common stereotype is that women in the Middle East don't have the same opportunities. The reality is that the Middle East is home to incredible women who are driving change and redefining industries. Their success is proof that talent, ambition, and resilience know no boundaries. The support for female entrepreneurs continues to grow, and there is a strong ecosystem in the region that encourages innovation, progress, and leadership. In the early days, some people doubted whether a niche chocolate brand could truly stand out in such a competitive market. They thought it was just another chocolate brand. That only pushed me to be bolder and refine our storytelling, and to create chocolates that weren't just delicious but unforgettable. Every doubt became fuel to innovate harder. It's the ability to create and lead with both strength and intuition. There's something powerful about building a brand with heart, and one that connects with people beyond just a product. As women, we bring a unique perspective to business. For me, that means leading with creativity, resilience and a deep sense of community. FIX is still exclusively available in Dubai and Abu Dhabi via Deliveroo. Our presence at Dubai Duty Free has given international customers the chance to experience our chocolates. Our journey has always been about building a brand that connects with people. Our community grows, so does our team and vision. We want to make sure that everyone who craves FIX, can get one, no matter where they are. Expanding isn't just about entering new markets, it's about reaching our supporters, sharing our creations with a wider audience, and making FIX more accessible. Right now, we're focused on strengthening our presence, whether through pop-ups, retail or eventually international markets. Start before you're ready. Too often, we wait for the perfect moment, but success is built in the process, not just the outcome. Trust your instincts, surround yourself with people who push you forward, and don't be afraid to take up space. Your vision deserves to be seen, and your voice deserves to be heard. GO: Visit for more information.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dubai chocolate went viral on TikTok. Now this Ottawa spot has its own take
2786 Lancaster Rd. Unit B, 705-770-7097, Open: Monday 3:30 p.m. to midnight, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday 3:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday, 3:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. The story behind some of Ottawa's newest and most chocolatey, nutty, crunchy, fluffy indulgences began several years ago in the United Arab Emirates. In 2021, British Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda launched her Dubai-based company Fix Dessert Chocolatier, meant to win over Arabs and Westerners with novel and thoroughly modern chocolate bars. Striving for uniqueness and cross-cultural appeal, Fix Dessert Chocolatier products feature such distinctively flavoured fillings as pistachio paste, Lotus Biscoff cookies, spicy tea and more. It was only a matter of time before Fix Dessert chocolate bars went viral. In late 2023, a UAE-based TikTok influencer's video racked up tens of millions of views. Brand recognition soared not just for Fix Dessert but also for the term 'Dubai chocolate.' In Ottawa, Sohayb Algharibeh took the ooey-gooey, pistachio-y inspiration of Dubai chocolate and ran with it. Last fall, in a Lancaster Road strip mall in Ottawa's east end, the 30-year-old Jordanian-Canadian and Algonquin College grad launched two brands under one roof, the restaurant and catering company Yummy Touch and the dessert-focused Yummy Waffle. Yummy Waffle's bestsellers, introduced in November, are Dubai chocolate waffles ($16.99), Dubai chocolate mini pancakes ($16.99 for a dozen) and Dubai chocolate cheesecake ($12.99). All feature generous toppings of chocolate sauce, pistachio sauce, pistachio crumbs, and toasted knafeh (crispy strands of house-made pastry dough). Among Yummy Waffle's other sweet treats are riffs on other candies including Ferrero Rocher, Kinder Bliss, KitKat and more. Algharibeh concedes that social-media hype has driven customer interest in his Dubai chocolate items. But he also says they're 'very delicious.' I don't disagree, especially if those waffles and mini-pancakes are in a state of just-made peak freshness, eaten in Yummy Waffle's dining room rather than brought home. One afternoon this week, I had to restrain myself from eating too many mini-pancakes. A waffle-loving friend proclaimed Algharibeh's Dubai chocolate waffle one of the best waffles he'd ever had. If you like Yummy Waffle's Dubai chocolate-inspired creations, there's more to explore and try in Ottawa. Google tells me that those Fix Dessert Chocolatier confections are available here. I also see that other Middle Eastern dessert and sweets shops in Ottawa have their spins on Dubai chocolate-based treats. I realize that this new information could be dangerous for your waistline. Please balance your hedonistic Dubai chocolate-inspired impulses with your health. phum@ Hazelnut Paris-Brest at Elina Patisserie Lobster Tails at Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana Kouign-amann at La Maison du Kouign-Amann Hot chocolate at Amandine Patisserie Petrali and susumelle at Dolce Sapori Italian Bakery & Cafe Croffles at Sharpfle Waffle Brûléed Ice Cream Sandwiches at Moo Shu Ice Cream & Kitchen Nanaimo bar chocolate chip cookies at Union Kitchen / Cafe / Local Store Tartelette's last-minute Valentine's Day treats Pie Rogues' Russian hand pies SuzyQ's doughnuts Want to stay in the know about what's happening in Ottawa? Sign up for the Ottawa Citizen's arts and life newsletter — Ottawa, Out of Office — our weekly guide to eating, listening, reading, watching, playing, hanging, learning and living well in the capital. These Ottawa restaurants are marking Ramadan with special hours, menus and buffets Where to eat kebabs in Ottawa: Sizzling lamb, beef, and chicken skewers fresh off the fire
New York Times
27-02-2025
- Health
- New York Times
‘Risk to Life' for Woman on Hunger Strike Over Son Jailed in Egypt
The mother of a jailed British Egyptian activist has been hospitalized and is at risk of sudden death, a doctor has said, as her hunger strike to demand her son's release reached 151 days. Laila Soueif, the mother of Alaa Abd El Fattah, one of Egypt's best-known political prisoners, has survived since late September on water, rehydration salts and sugarless tea and coffee to push for his release from a Cairo prison, her family said. Ms. Soueif, 68, a mathematician and professor who is also a British citizen, started her hunger strike after it became clear that Mr. Abd El Fattah, 43, who had served a five-year sentence, was not going to be released as expected in September. She told The New York Times last fall that she would not back down in her campaign to pressure the British government to use its diplomatic and economic ties with Egypt to secure his release. 'When people ask, 'What do you think you're doing?' I say, 'I'm creating a crisis,' ' she said in an interview. Ms. Soueif lives in Cairo, but has been spending time in Britain throughout her hunger strike and on Monday was admitted to a hospital in London after her blood sugar and blood pressure dropped to dangerously low levels. A doctor treating Ms. Soueif at St. Thomas and Guy's Hospital wrote that her condition was now extremely serious, in a letter shared by her family and supporters on social media. 'I have explained the gravity of her condition and the serious harms which will result from continued fasting,' wrote the doctor, whose name was redacted from the public version of the letter. He added, 'there is now immediate risk to life including further deterioration or death,' and that Ms. Soueif 'is in particular at high risk of sudden death with continued fasting.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, said he would continue to raise the case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government and push for Mr. Abd El Fattah's release. 'It is an incredibly difficult situation for them,' Mr. Starmer said, adding that he had met with the family a few days ago and 'will do everything I can to ensure the release in this case. That includes phone calls as necessary.' Mr. Abd El Fattah became a prominent voice of the Egyptian uprising in 2011 that toppled the country's authoritarian ruler, Hosni Mubarak. But an Islamist political party took power in Egypt's first democratic presidential election, and then a widespread backlash to its rule allowed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to later seize power. Since then, Mr. el-Sisi has cracked down on dissenting voices. Mr. Abd El Fattah has spent much of the last decade in prison after two earlier arrests, in 2006 for protesting for judicial independence and then in 2011 for an article critical of Egypt's military. He was detained again from 2013 until March 2019 on charges of organizing an illegal protest. Months later, in September 2019, he was arrested again and sentenced in 2021 to five years for sharing a Facebook post about abuse in prison. He had been set to be released from prison in September 2024, but the Egyptian authorities said that they would not count his two years of pretrial detention toward his sentence, an increasingly routine practice in the country. Mr. Abd El Fattah is now scheduled for release in 2027, although he and his family fear he could be held indefinitely. While in jail, he successfully applied for British citizenship through his mother, who is a dual national. Several British lawmakers wrote a letter to Mr. Starmer last month urging him to 'intensify efforts across the whole of government to make Alaa's urgent release a reality.' But pressuring the Egyptian authorities on individual cases can backfire, diplomats in Cairo have said. The British have pressed for consular visits with Mr. Abd El Fattah and called for his release since he gained British citizenship in 2021, but they have had no success. And Mr. Abd El Fattah's family worry time is running out. 'If Keir Starmer would pick up the phone and speak to President Sisi, I believe that he can secure the release of my brother, and save my mother's life,' Sanaa Seif, Mr. Abd El Fattah's younger sister, said in a statement, adding, 'Every moment that he waits means that my mother is more likely to die.'
