Laila Soueif, a lifelong advocate for human rights in Egypt, finds herself embroiled in a deeply personal struggle. Her son, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist and blogger, remains unjustly imprisoned in Cairo, 107 days past his scheduled release date after serving a five-year sentence for a Facebook post criticizing human rights abuses. Driven by maternal love and unwavering determination, Laila has embarked on a grueling hunger strike, subsisting solely on black coffee, herbal tea, and rehydration salts, enduring significant weight loss and the harsh realities of protesting on London streets throughout the winter. Her unwavering resolve to secure her son’s freedom has led her to relocate her protest from the Foreign Office to the gates of Downing Street, placing direct pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to intervene.
Alaa’s imprisonment has taken a heavy toll on his family, especially his mother. Laila’s physical and emotional well-being are deteriorating, marked by increasing fatigue, shortness of temper, and tearfulness. Despite these challenges, she remains steadfast in her commitment to her son’s release. During a recent prison visit for Coptic Christmas, Alaa expressed concern for his mother’s health, a worry mirrored by Laila, who fears that each visit may be her last. This shared apprehension underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for action to secure Alaa’s freedom and safeguard Laila’s health.
Alaa, a prominent figure in the 2011 Egyptian uprising, has endured prolonged periods of incarceration over the past decade. His current imprisonment stems from a 2019 conviction related to a Facebook post. Despite completing his sentence, he remains unjustly detained, caught in a bureaucratic and political quagmire. Laila’s efforts to communicate the progress of her campaign during their brief, monitored prison visits prove challenging, leaving Alaa feeling isolated and hopeless. The lack of tangible progress reinforces the urgency of Laila’s hunger strike and the need for effective diplomatic intervention from the UK government.
While the UK government has acknowledged Alaa’s case and claims to be actively working for his release, Laila believes stronger measures are necessary. Although Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Labour leader Keir Starmer have raised the issue with Egyptian authorities, Laila urges Starmer to escalate his efforts by personally communicating with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and demanding Alaa’s release. She sees direct dialogue between the two leaders as crucial to breaking the impasse and securing her son’s freedom. Laila’s presence at Foreign Office questions in the House of Commons underscores her determination to keep Alaa’s case in the public eye and pressure the government to intensify its diplomatic efforts.
The call for stronger action is echoed by Brendan O’Hara, an SNP MP and vice-chair of the new all-party parliamentary group on arbitrary detention. He believes the UK government needs to adopt a firmer stance with Egypt, given Laila’s unwavering commitment and the protracted nature of Alaa’s detention. O’Hara emphasizes the need for “hardball” tactics, recognizing that the Egyptian authorities have thus far remained unresponsive to more diplomatic approaches. He sees Laila’s hunger strike as a clear signal that this issue will not simply fade away, and the UK government must respond accordingly.
The UK government maintains that securing Alaa’s release remains a priority. They cite multiple letters from the Prime Minister to President Sisi and ongoing communication between the Foreign Secretary and the Egyptian Foreign Minister, including a recent meeting on January 12th. Officials also emphasize their continued requests for consular access to Alaa and his subsequent release. However, for Laila, these assurances ring hollow. Years of diplomatic efforts have failed to secure her son’s freedom, leading her to distrust promises and demand tangible action – Alaa’s physical release. She vows to continue her hunger strike until he walks free or her health forces her to stop, a stark testament to a mother’s unwavering devotion and the agonizing uncertainty surrounding her son’s fate.
