Household of jailed British-Egyptian activist lead vigil to demand his launch
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he household of imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah have led a vigil in London to name for Government motion to demand his freedom.
Mr Abd El-Fattah is at present serving a five-year sentence in Egypt on prices of disseminating false news for retweeting a report in 2019 that one other prisoner had died in custody.
At the Amnesty International UK vigil in entrance of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development workplace in Westminster on Monday, his mom Laila Soueif stated he “just wants to get out of jail and take care of his son”.
Ms Soueif and her daughter Mona Seif delivered a letter signed by greater than 100 MPs and lords to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, calling for extra motion to assist free the pro-democracy activist.
They known as on the UK Government to steer on a joint assertion about Egypt on the Human Rights Council and to alter the journey recommendation for British nationals heading to Egypt.
They ought to make it very clear to British nationals about how unstable issues are in Egypt
Speaking to the PA news company, Ms Seif stated her household has been “let down” by world leaders, notably Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“Since Rishi Sunak met with President Sisi during Cop27 nothing much has happened, and it has been very disappointing,” she stated.
“He went and raised Alaa’s case, but he was there at a critical point when Alaa’s health was in a dire situation, and we didn’t have enough information about him.
“He couldn’t even get us a proof of life and he couldn’t get a promise of a consulate visit.”
She stated the household has now been capable of go to the 40-year-old author in Egypt and have discovered him in a greater situation.
He beforehand carried out starvation strikes which intensified throughout the Cop27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh in November 2022, the place Mr Sunak raised his case with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
“Things have improved over the past year… he has been removed from the maximum-security prison,” she stated.
“He’s OK, he has access to books, he has monthly visits from the family, and he gets to listen to music.
“But other than that, he is still denied consulate access, he still is denied access to lawyers.
“Psychologically, he’s in a much better state, because during our visits over the past month after he completely collapsed after the hunger strike, we managed to actually talk to him about the extent of the campaign and solidarity he’s getting all over the world.
“And I think it resonated with him and managed to make him feel much more supported and helped him to be in a better state.”
Ms Seif added: “They should make it very clear to British nationals about how unstable things are in Egypt, the reality of the situation, and how it’s very easy to get into weird situations that end up sending you to prison.
“The UK must prioritise human rights, the rule of law, and the wellbeing of their citizens over the trade deals and meaningless diplomatic relations they have with a military dictatorship.”