Mother Begins Hunger Strike to Demand Release of Jailed Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah

Laila Soueif protests her son's continued imprisonment despite completing his sentence, highlighting Egypt's autocratic rule.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah, a prominent Egyptian activist, was due for release on September 29, 2024, after completing a five-year prison sentence.
Egyptian authorities recalculated his sentence start date, effectively extending his imprisonment until 2027.
Laila Soueif, Abdel-Fattah's mother, has started a hunger strike, stating she will not eat until her son is freed.
Abdel-Fattah, who obtained British citizenship in 2022, has spent most of the past decade in prison for his pro-democracy activities.
The UK government, under Foreign Secretary David Lammy, is being urged to take stronger action to secure Abdel-Fattah's release.