In brief
Laila Soueif, mother of political prisoner Alaa Abd El Fattah, faces hospitalization after a protracted hunger strike to demand her son's freedom, highlighting the dire situation of political activism in Egypt.
Laila Soueif, the mother of Alaa Abd El Fattah, a prominent political prisoner in Egypt, is reportedly in critical condition as her hunger strike reaches 151 days. A medical professional has warned that Soueif’s ongoing refusal to eat poses a significant risk to her life. The 68-year-old British citizen and mathematician has been subsisting solely on water, rehydration salts, and unsweetened beverages since late September. Her hunger strike commenced after expectations of her son's release were dashed, despite serving a five-year sentence.Soueif has been vocal about her motivations, declaring her determination to create a crisis that compels the British government to leverage its diplomatic relationship with Egypt to advocate for her son's release. “When people ask, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I say, ‘I’m creating a crisis,’” she explained in a previous interview.Despite residing in Cairo, Soueif has spent extended periods in Britain throughout her strike. On February 26, she was admitted to a London hospital following a severe drop in blood pressure and blood sugar levels, a further indication of her deteriorating health. Alaa Abd El Fattah was sentenced to five years in prison in 2021 for sharing a social media post detailing abuse within the prison system.
