28 h. ago 250 days on hunger strike: Can Laila Soueif secure her son’s freedom? – podcast

Who is Alaa Abd el-Fattah and why are British diplomats trying to obtain his release? Patrick Wintour reportsLaila Soueif, 69, has been on hunger strike in London for more than 250 days in an effort to secure the release of her son, the activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, from jail in Egypt. As diplomatic pressure mounts, she is now in a critical condition.Alaa’s sister Mona Seif describes to Michael Safi the toll that imprisonment has taken on her brother, her mother’s determination to do whatever she can to secure his release, and the difficulty of coming to terms with her mother’s decision to risk her life. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Dame Judi Dench and Carey Mulligan urge Keir Starmer to free British man who's been trapped in Egypt prison for the past 10 years

EXCLUSIVE: Alaa Abd el Fattah, 43, has been imprisoned in Wadi El Natrun prison in Cairo after being arrested for his activist work in support of democracy and human rights in the country.

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8 d. ago Mum of activist jailed in Egypt 'miraculously' alive on day 247 of hunger strike

Laila Soueif, 69, stopped eating on September 29 last year after her British-Egyptian son, Alaa Abd el Fattah, was due to be released after more than a decade in an Egyptian jail cell

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9 d. ago Mark Ruffalo and Brian Cox demand Keir Starmer helps free Brit before his mum dies

Actors Brian Cox, Mark Ruffalo and Bill Nighy are among celebrities calling on Keir Starmer to do more to secure Alaa Abd el-Fattah's freedom as his mum fights for her life in hospital

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9 d. ago Must Laila Soueif die from her hunger strike in London before her son Alaa Abd el

Egypt’s lack of respect for the rule of law is alarming and Britain should impose sanctions to ensure his freedomUK should impose sanctions on Egypt over jailed activist, says Helena KennedyLaila Soueif is one of the most determined people I know, and for that reason, she is in grave danger. The grandmother, 69, is lying in a hospital bed in central London, perilously close to death after 245 days on hunger strike. She could still survive, but it will depend on the UK government taking strong action.Soueif stopped eating to try to save her son, the imprisoned British-Egyptian national Alaa Abd el-Fattah, an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience and winner of the 2024 English PEN writer of courage award. He has spent more than a decade in an Egyptian jail cell because of his writings on democracy. Soueif wants more than anything else to reunite him with his own son, 13, who lives in Brighton and has barely been able to spend time with his father.Helena Kennedy KC is a Labour p...

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1 week ago Mother of jailed British activist at risk of ‘sudden death’ from hunger strike, doctors warn

Laila’s daughter Sanaa said it was a ‘miracle’ her mother survived the night

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1 week ago Mother of jailed British activist admitted to hospital while on hunger strike

Laila Soueif has been on hunger strike for 242 days in protest against the imprisonment of her son, Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

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1 week ago Government urged to upgrade travel warning for ‘police state’ Egypt following ongoing detention of Alaa Abd el

Former ambassador to Egypt John Casson is among figures calling on the government to ‘deploy the full range of tools it has to protect British citizens’

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1 week ago Brits planning holidays in Egypt warned of 'real risk' of travelling to 'vindictive police state' by ambassador after UK citizen was locked up in hellhole prison

Alaa Abd-El Fattah, a vocal critic of the Egyptian government, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019, but still has not been released

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2 w. ago UK holidaymakers warned to check travel insurance policy for one key detail

A travel insurance expert has shared their top tips for keeping your money safe while abroad

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3 w. ago Starmer urged to ‘deploy every tool’ to free jailed British activist

MPs and peers have pressed for the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been on hunger strike for more than 80 days.

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