Latest news with #FreeAlaa
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Starmer urged to ‘deploy every tool' to free jailed British activist
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged by 100 MPs and peers to 'deploy every tool' available to help free a jailed British citizen on hunger strike for more than 80 days. A letter from the parliamentarians sent to the Prime Minister warns the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah is at a 'vital stage' and a resolution is required to protect his health and that of his mother, who has also stepped up her long-term hunger strike. British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Mr Abd El-Fattah, 43, has been detained in Egypt since September 29 2019 and, in December 2021, was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news. The cross-party group of MPs and peers argue Mr Abd El-Fattah is a 'political prisoner' who should have been released once his five-year period of being detained ended in September 2024. They add he has been 'acutely unwell' in prison and has experienced vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness and blurred vision. Sir Keir pressed Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in February to release Mr Abd El-Fattah, but the parliamentarians have expressed 'mounting concern about the lack of concrete progress' on the case. Mr Abd El-Fattah has spent most of the past decade in prison because of his criticism of Egypt's rulers and is unable to see his young son, who lives in Brighton. The Free Alaa campaign said his mother, Laila Soueif, has not eaten any food since September 29 2024 and this week resumed her full, zero calorie, hunger strike diet after previously consuming a 300-calorie liquid nutritional supplement since the start of March. It added Ms Soueif has been on hunger strike for 234 days and she now weighs 7st 10lbs (49 kilogrammes) having lost 5st 9lb (36kg) – 42% of her original body weight. The letter from the MPs and peers to Sir Keir stated: 'We are requesting an urgent update on progress, given the serious risks both to his health and that of his mother Laila Soueif, who has been on hunger strike in support of him since September 2024.' After welcoming Sir Keir's previous commitments to help, they added: 'We write with mounting concern about the lack of concrete progress on Alaa's case, more than two months after your call with President Sisi. 'Time is in desperately short supply in this case. Alaa has been acutely unwell in prison, experiencing vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness and blurred vision. 'Meanwhile, Laila's health continues to deteriorate. She has not eaten proper food for more than seven months. ' Prime Minister, we remain gravely concerned about the implications for Alaa's family if the path to resolve his case and secure his release cannot be found very soon. 'There is also no doubt in our minds that if the health of Laila or Alaa is further damaged by this ordeal, this would have serious long-term implications for the British-Egyptian bilateral relationship. 'We urge you to deploy every tool at your Government's disposal at this vital stage. We offer our support to your efforts on behalf of Alaa and his family in any way needed.' At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir said he would do 'everything' in his power to secure Mr Abd El-Fattah's release, in response to a question from John McDonnell. The independent MP for Hayes and Harlington said: 'I want to thank the Prime Minister for fulfilling his promise to contact President Sisi of Egypt to secure Alaa's release. 'But unfortunately, months on now, and Alaa remains in prison, and Laila, this week, has started her hunger strike again. Can I appeal to him to speak directly again to President Sisi to secure Alaa's release?' Sir Keir replied: 'Can I thank him for raising this, not just today, but on the many occasions that he has, it is incredibly important that we do everything we can. 'In this case, I have met Laila and given her my commitment to do everything I possibly can. I have had a number of contacts myself, but I am not going to stop doing everything within my power to secure release.'
South Wales Guardian
21-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Starmer urged to ‘deploy every tool' to free jailed British activist
A letter from the parliamentarians sent to the Prime Minister warns the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah is at a 'vital stage' and a resolution is required to protect his health and that of his mother, who has also stepped up her long-term hunger strike. British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Mr Abd El-Fattah, 43, has been detained in Egypt since September 29 2019 and, in December 2021, was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news. The cross-party group of MPs and peers argue Mr Abd El-Fattah is a 'political prisoner' who should have been released once his five-year period of being detained ended in September 2024. They add he has been 'acutely unwell' in prison and has experienced vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness and blurred vision. Sir Keir pressed Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in February to release Mr Abd El-Fattah, but the parliamentarians have expressed 'mounting concern about the lack of concrete progress' on the case. Mr Abd El-Fattah has spent most of the past decade in prison because of his criticism of Egypt's rulers and is unable to see his young son, who lives in Brighton. The Free Alaa campaign said his mother, Laila Soueif, has not eaten any food since September 29 2024 and this week resumed her full, zero calorie, hunger strike diet after previously consuming a 300-calorie liquid nutritional supplement since the start of March. It added Ms Soueif has been on hunger strike for 234 days and she now weighs 7st 10lbs (49 kilogrammes) having lost 5st 9lb (36kg) – 42% of her original body weight. The letter from the MPs and peers to Sir Keir stated: 'We are requesting an urgent update on progress, given the serious risks both to his health and that of his mother Laila Soueif, who has been on hunger strike in support of him since September 2024.' After welcoming Sir Keir's previous commitments to help, they added: 'We write with mounting concern about the lack of concrete progress on Alaa's case, more than two months after your call with President Sisi. 'Time is in desperately short supply in this case. Alaa has been acutely unwell in prison, experiencing vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness and blurred vision. 'Meanwhile, Laila's health continues to deteriorate. She has not eaten proper food for more than seven months. 'Prime Minister, we remain gravely concerned about the implications for Alaa's family if the path to resolve his case and secure his release cannot be found very soon. 'There is also no doubt in our minds that if the health of Laila or Alaa is further damaged by this ordeal, this would have serious long-term implications for the British-Egyptian bilateral relationship. 'We urge you to deploy every tool at your Government's disposal at this vital stage. We offer our support to your efforts on behalf of Alaa and his family in any way needed.'
Leader Live
21-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Starmer urged to ‘deploy every tool' to free jailed British activist
A letter from the parliamentarians sent to the Prime Minister warns the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah is at a 'vital stage' and a resolution is required to protect his health and that of his mother, who has also stepped up her long-term hunger strike. British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Mr Abd El-Fattah, 43, has been detained in Egypt since September 29 2019 and, in December 2021, was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news. The cross-party group of MPs and peers argue Mr Abd El-Fattah is a 'political prisoner' who should have been released once his five-year period of being detained ended in September 2024. They add he has been 'acutely unwell' in prison and has experienced vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness and blurred vision. Sir Keir pressed Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in February to release Mr Abd El-Fattah, but the parliamentarians have expressed 'mounting concern about the lack of concrete progress' on the case. Mr Abd El-Fattah has spent most of the past decade in prison because of his criticism of Egypt's rulers and is unable to see his young son, who lives in Brighton. The Free Alaa campaign said his mother, Laila Soueif, has not eaten any food since September 29 2024 and this week resumed her full, zero calorie, hunger strike diet after previously consuming a 300-calorie liquid nutritional supplement since the start of March. It added Ms Soueif has been on hunger strike for 234 days and she now weighs 7st 10lbs (49 kilogrammes) having lost 5st 9lb (36kg) – 42% of her original body weight. The letter from the MPs and peers to Sir Keir stated: 'We are requesting an urgent update on progress, given the serious risks both to his health and that of his mother Laila Soueif, who has been on hunger strike in support of him since September 2024.' After welcoming Sir Keir's previous commitments to help, they added: 'We write with mounting concern about the lack of concrete progress on Alaa's case, more than two months after your call with President Sisi. 'Time is in desperately short supply in this case. Alaa has been acutely unwell in prison, experiencing vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness and blurred vision. 'Meanwhile, Laila's health continues to deteriorate. She has not eaten proper food for more than seven months. 'Prime Minister, we remain gravely concerned about the implications for Alaa's family if the path to resolve his case and secure his release cannot be found very soon. 'There is also no doubt in our minds that if the health of Laila or Alaa is further damaged by this ordeal, this would have serious long-term implications for the British-Egyptian bilateral relationship. 'We urge you to deploy every tool at your Government's disposal at this vital stage. We offer our support to your efforts on behalf of Alaa and his family in any way needed.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hunger-striking mother of jailed UK-Egyptian activist on glucose drip
An Egyptian-British mother on hunger strike in protest against the detention of her activist son in Cairo has been given a glucose drip after being hospitalised in London, a campaign group said on Friday. Laila Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 152 days and was admitted to London's St Thomas's Hospital late on Monday due to "dangerously new lows" in her blood sugar and sodium levels, as well as her blood pressure. She had previously turned down artificial glucose, despite being warned there was an "immediate risk to life", but agreed at the request of her daughters Sanaa and Mona to take one dose "in an effort to extend her life", campaign group Free Alaa said in a press release. Soueif has lived on only coffee, tea and rehydration sachets since September 29, 2024, the date that marked five years in detention for her son Alaa Abdel Fattah. Fattah, 43, a pro-democracy and rights campaigner, was arrested by Egyptian authorities in September 2019 and later given a five-year sentence for "spreading false news". His family criticised his trial as a "farce" and has demanded he be released having completed his sentence. Soueif started the drip on Thursday and the dose was given to her over the course of 12 hours "due to the dangers of the intervention at this stage in her hunger strike", said the campaign group. "Doctors at the hospital have stressed that this is a temporary intervention, that they cannot guarantee it will extend Laila's life, and that if it does it will be for a limited time, possibly only a few hours, and if lucky a few days," they added. Soueif has lost almost 30 kilograms (66 pounds) since starting her hunger strike, which she has vowed to continue until her son is released. For weeks, Soueif braved London's bitter cold to demonstrate outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Downing Street office each working day since the date she says her son should have been released. Sanaa Seif called on Starmer to take urgent action. "When we met Keir Starmer he asked us for more time and promised that he would do all he could to free my brother," she said. "I don't think we'll be able to convince mum to do this again. So we desperately urge the prime minister to use this time well," she added. jwp/jkb/sbk
Arab News
28-02-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Hunger-striking mother of jailed UK-Egyptian activist on glucose drip
Laila Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 152 days and was admitted to London's St. Thomas's Hospital late on MondayShe had previously turned down artificial glucose, despite being warned there was an 'immediate risk to life'LONDON: An Egyptian-British mother on hunger strike in protest against the detention of her activist son in Cairo has been given a glucose drip after being hospitalized in London, a campaign group said on Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 152 days and was admitted to London's St. Thomas's Hospital late on Monday due to 'dangerously new lows' in her blood sugar and sodium levels, as well as her blood had previously turned down artificial glucose, despite being warned there was an 'immediate risk to life,' but agreed at the request of her daughters Sanaa and Mona to take one dose 'in an effort to extend her life,' campaign group Free Alaa said in a press has lived on only coffee, tea and rehydration sachets since September 29, 2024, the date that marked five years in detention for her son Alaa Abdel 43, a pro-democracy and rights campaigner, was arrested by Egyptian authorities in September 2019 and later given a five-year sentence for 'spreading false news.'His family criticized his trial as a 'farce' and has demanded he be released having completed his started the drip on Thursday and the dose was given to her over the course of 12 hours 'due to the dangers of the intervention at this stage in her hunger strike,' said the campaign group.'Doctors at the hospital have stressed that this is a temporary intervention, that they cannot guarantee it will extend Laila's life, and that if it does it will be for a limited time, possibly only a few hours, and if lucky a few days,' they has lost almost 30 kilograms (66 pounds) since starting her hunger strike, which she has vowed to continue until her son is weeks, Soueif braved London's bitter cold to demonstrate outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Downing Street office each working day since the date she says her son should have been Seif called on Starmer to take urgent action.'When we met Keir Starmer he asked us for more time and promised that he would do all he could to free my brother,' she said.'I don't think we'll be able to convince mum to do this again. So we desperately urge the prime minister to use this time well,' she added.
