Prominent Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah is in declining health after spending more than 50 days on hunger strike in an Egyptian prison, his family said on Tuesday, raising renewed concerns over his prolonged incarceration and deteriorating medical condition.
Abdel Fattah, 42, has been behind bars for most of the past decade, becoming a symbol of Egypt’s crackdown on dissent following the 2011 Arab Spring. His ongoing hunger strike—launched on March 1, 2025—was triggered by news of his mother, Laila Soueif, being hospitalized during her own protest fast in London.
In a letter sent to his family last Saturday, Abdel Fattah revealed that he had been suffering repeated bouts of vomiting for more than a week. “The inflammation in my stomach is getting worse,” he wrote, noting that the medications administered by prison authorities were making him “dizzy” and affecting his vision.
Hunger Strike in Solidarity with His Mother
Abdel Fattah’s decision to stop eating solid food came after learning that his 68-year-old mother had been hospitalised due to complications arising from her own hunger strike, which began in September 2024. Soueif, a mathematics professor and longtime human rights advocate, had been refusing food to draw attention to her son’s continued detention. She was admitted to a London hospital in February with dangerously low blood sugar and is now receiving glucose intravenously.
Despite her own frailty, Soueif remains determined. “We do this because silence is no longer an option. Alaa has been denied justice for too long,” she was quoted as saying from her hospital bed.
Since the beginning of his hunger strike, Abdel Fattah has reportedly consumed only herbal tea, black coffee, and rehydration salts. Medical professionals believe this prolonged lack of nutrition is causing severe gastrointestinal complications, including suspected damage to his stomach and intestines.
Family Pleads for UK Government Intervention
The activist’s sister, Sanaa Seif, issued a heartfelt statement this week, calling on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intensify diplomatic pressure on Cairo.
“We are all so exhausted,” she said. “My mum and my brother are literally putting their bodies on the line just to give Alaa the freedom he deserves. Their health is so precarious, I’m always afraid we are on the verge of a tragedy. We need Keir Starmer to do all he can to bring Alaa home to us.”
Seif has been at the forefront of the international campaign for her brother’s release and previously staged her own protests outside British embassies and international summits.
A History of Protest and Imprisonment
Alaa Abdel Fattah gained international attention during the 2011 Egyptian uprising, where he was a vocal supporter of democratic reforms and free expression. Over the years, he became one of Egypt’s most well-known political prisoners, having been jailed multiple times under successive regimes.
Though he was scheduled for release in 2024 after serving five years on charges of “spreading false news,” authorities extended his incarceration until 2027 by excluding his pre-trial detention period from the total sentence. Rights groups condemned the move as a clear abuse of legal process aimed at silencing dissent.
“Alaa’s case is emblematic of the Egyptian government’s relentless campaign against freedom of speech,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director. “Keeping him behind bars on such dubious legal grounds is a grave injustice.”
Renewed Global Pressure
Abdel Fattah’s plight has galvanized human rights organisations and political leaders around the world. During a February 2025 meeting, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly raised the issue directly with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, calling for the activist’s release on humanitarian grounds.
“Alaa Abdel Fattah is a British citizen who deserves due process and fair treatment. We urge Egypt to respect its international obligations and free him immediately,” a spokesperson for Downing Street said at the time.
This isn’t the first time Abdel Fattah has engaged in a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment. In 2022, he drew international attention by going on strike during the COP27 climate summit, which was hosted in Egypt. That protest ended under unclear circumstances after a brief hospitalization and increased international scrutiny.
The Human Toll of Political Injustice
For Abdel Fattah and his family, the cost of political activism has been deeply personal. While Laila Soueif battles health issues from her protest fast in London, her son struggles to survive under harsh conditions in an Egyptian prison cell. His sister, meanwhile, continues to advocate tirelessly, navigating both media attention and diplomatic corridors to plead his case.
“Alaa is not just a symbol. He is a brother, a son, a father. His life matters,” said Sanaa Seif. “We can’t allow him to fade away while the world watches.”
As the hunger strike stretches into its second month, human rights advocates warn that time is running out. Without urgent medical intervention or a political breakthrough, Abdel Fattah’s life may be in imminent danger.
A Call to Action
Activists and supporters are calling for renewed international pressure on the Egyptian government to secure Abdel Fattah’s immediate release. Campaigns are currently underway in London and other major cities, with supporters demanding that the UK government escalate diplomatic efforts and explore legal avenues to protect its citizen.
“The UK has a duty to stand up for its nationals when their rights are being violated abroad,” said British MP Layla Moran. “This is not just a consular issue—it’s a human rights emergency.”
With the world watching and the stakes rising by the day, Alaa Abdel Fattah’s struggle has become a litmus test for global commitment to free expression, justice, and human dignity.
