Egyptian Activist’s Mother Hospitalized – Hunger Strike
laila Soueif, mother of jailed activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, is hospitalized in London after a 242-day hunger strike, a protest against her son’s continued detention despite his completed sentence. The 69-year-old’s health rapidly declined, prompting immediate concern from her family and renewed calls for international intervention. Abd el-Fattah, a prominent political prisoner, was expected to be released last year.His imprisonment, deemed arbitrary and illegal by a UN panel, continues to draw condemnation. His daughter implores UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to secure her father’s freedom, citing her mother’s critical condition. The case highlights the broader issues of human rights in Egypt. News directory 3 reports on these grave developments. With mounting pressure, will diplomatic efforts succeed? Discover what’s next in this unfolding situation.
Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s Mother Hospitalized Amid Hunger Strike
Updated June 02, 2025
The mother of jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, Laila Soueif, has been hospitalized in London after staging a 242-day hunger strike protesting her son’s continued detention. Abd el-Fattah, himself a prominent political prisoner, expressed deep concern for his mother’s health from his prison cell.
Soueif, 69, began her hunger strike Sept. 29 of last year, the date her son was expected to be released after serving a five-year sentence. Her condition worsened, leading to hospitalization with critically low blood sugar. Sanaa Seif, her daughter, said her mother is refusing glucose treatment and is in critical condition.
Sanaa Seif implored UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene instantly to secure Abd el-Fattah’s release, emphasizing the urgency of her mother’s condition. “It’s a miracle that we still have her,” Seif said.
Alaa Abd el-Fattah, 43, a leading voice for democracy, was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to five years for “spreading false news” after a Facebook post concerning police brutality.His continued imprisonment, despite completing his sentence, has sparked international condemnation.
Soueif briefly lessened her hunger strike in February after Starmer said he had raised the issue with Egyptian officials. However, she resumed the full strike on May 20, after losing a significant amount of weight. Starmer’s office stated he again pressed the Egyptian president for Abd el-Fattah’s release.
“His case is emblematic of a much wider abuse of due process of human rights and democracy in Egypt.”
A United Nations panel recently declared Abd el-Fattah’s detention arbitrary and illegal, demanding his immediate release. Calls for international support are growing as his mother’s health deteriorates.
What’s next
The family continues to appeal to international leaders to pressure Egypt for Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s release, hoping to secure his freedom before his mother’s condition worsens further. The focus remains on diplomatic efforts and raising awareness of his case.