Mother of jailed British Egyptian activist vows to continue hunger strike despite risk of death

Laila Soueif’s body becomes lower and lower.

Doctors warned her that – after eight months on the hunger strike – she is now risking sudden death.

But the strength of his determination has not decreased at all.

Addressing the BBC at St Thomas Hospital in London, the 69-year-old British-Egyptian mathematics professor says that she wants “passionately” to live.

But she told the teday program that she was ready to die if that was what it took to bring her son Alaa Abdel Fattah out – the most eminent political prisoner in prison in Cairo.

Calling British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his government to find a way to bring Egypt to release it, she says that she has “no other choice” than to continue to refuse calories.

Alaa Abdel Fattah – which is also a British -Egyptian national double – played a leading role in pro -democracy demonstrations in Egypt in 2011 and has been in prison almost permanently since 2014.

His last five -year sentence was pronounced after sharing an article on Facebook about a dying prisoner after torture.

Laila Soueif made a hunger strike in September 2024 – while her son’s sentence should have ended.

The Egyptian authorities refused to have the more than two years that he spent in prior detention in his time. And his family fears that he is used to give an example and will never be released.

“He finished his sentence for the love of God. It was an unjust sentence rendered by a kangaroo court,” said his mother. “He should have left this prison on September 29.”

For months, she only consumed shades, black coffee and rehydration salts. Hospitalized in February, she agreed to consume 300 liquid calories per day, after the Prime Minister called Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sissi to release her son.

But on May 20, she resumed her hunger strike, saying that no progress had been made.

Laila Soueif was hospitalized last Thursday and received glucagon, a hormone used to treat severe hypoglycemia.

She takes intravenous electrolytes. But it currently refuses the treatment of glucose. And during the weekend, his glucose levels fell so low that they could not be detected, according to his family.

“No one understands how she is always aware,” said her daughter, Sanaa Seif. “It’s very frightening.”

She says her mother now has the impression of dying.

“She tells us about life after her departure. She started saying goodbye.”

Last week, the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention – a panel of independent human rights – said that Alaa Abdel Fattah had been arrested for exercising his right to freedom of expression and called for immediate release.

But Egypt – an important ally of the United Kingdom – did not even allow the British Embassy to visit it.

His family calls for the British government to do more to put pressure on Egypt have been joined by the deputies of the parliamentary administration of all the parties on arbitrary detention and hostage affairs and by the former British ambassador to Egypt, John Casson.

During his opposition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Lammy, had called on Egypt to face “serious diplomatic consequences” if it does not grant immediate consular access to the United Kingdom, and free Alaa Abdel Fattah.

“I don’t think the government is quite energetic,” said Sanaa Seif. “Alaa must be outside prison and outside the country. He must be in Brighton with his son, Khaled.”

She says that she is inspired by the strength of her mother and happy that her hunger strike drew attention to the fate of the tens of thousands of political prisoners estimated at Egypt – as well as the problems with British nationals are confronted when they are detained abroad.

“I’m really, really proud of my mother. I’m afraid for her. And I’m angry with the government, especially the Foreign Affairs office, because they have lost so much time.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that he is committed to the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the urgency of the situation during a call with his counterpart on Sunday morning, and a new commitment to the highest level of the Egyptian government continues,” said a spokesperson.

The officials say that the Prime Minister spoke to President Sisi on May 22 and again pressure for his release.

Asked about her message if she would not survive, Laila Soueif replied: “My message is: Use my death as a lever to get Alaa out.”