The mother of imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been warned by doctors that her life is at imminent risk due to a prolonged hunger strike aimed at securing her son’s release from an Egyptian prison.
Laila Soueif, 68, was hospitalized in London on Monday after nearly five months without food, with doctors cautioning she faces “high risk of sudden death” if she continues fasting.
Laila Soueif Hospitalized Amid Hunger Strike Crisis
Soueif began her hunger strike in September, consuming only herbal tea, black coffee, and rehydration salts. According to her family, she has lost 35% of her body weight and was admitted to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital with dangerously low blood sugar, blood pressure, and sodium levels. Medical staff placed her on a saline drip, but she continues to refuse glucose treatment.
A consultant at the hospital warned in a publicly released letter that Soueif urgently needs to stop fasting or accept artificial nutrition to avoid potentially fatal complications. Despite these warnings, Soueif remains determined, stating she will only end her protest upon the resolution of her son’s case.
Family Appeals to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Soueif’s family is urgently calling for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene personally by speaking directly with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. They believe Starmer’s involvement could secure Alaa Abdel Fattah’s immediate release, potentially saving Laila Soueif’s life.
“If Keir Starmer would pick up the phone and speak to President Sisi, he can secure my brother’s release and save my mother’s life,” said her daughter, Sanaa Seif, in a statement. She urged Starmer to act immediately, emphasizing that any delay increases the risk of her mother’s death.
Earlier this month, after meeting with Laila Soueif, Prime Minister Starmer pledged to “do all that I can” to reunite Abdel Fattah with his family, promising to raise the matter at the highest levels of the Egyptian government.
Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah’s Case Highlights Human Rights Concerns
Alaa Abdel Fattah, 43, is one of Egypt’s most prominent pro-democracy activists. He was arrested in September 2019, only six months after completing a previous five-year sentence. In 2021, he was sentenced again to five years for “spreading false news,” based on a Facebook post criticizing torture practices in Egypt. Egyptian authorities have refused to count his two-year pre-trial detention period toward his current sentence.
Abdel Fattah, who became a British citizen in 2021, has been denied consular visits by British diplomats. A previous hunger strike in 2022, coinciding with Egypt’s hosting of a UN climate summit, drew international attention, temporarily improving his conditions in prison but failing to secure his release.
