Alaa Abd el-Fattah's mother at 'risk of sudden death,' as she marks 150th day of hunger strike

A consultant doctor at St Thomas' Hospital in London has warned that Egyptian-British prisoner and activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah's mother, Laila Soueif, is facing a "high risk of sudden death" due to her hunger strike. Soueif initiated the hunger strike to demand more action from the UK government to secure Abd El-Fattah's release. This highlights the urgency and severity of her protest.

Soueif was hospitalized on February 24 due to low blood pressure and sodium levels. As of now, she has been on hunger strike for 150 days and has lost nearly 30 kilograms, equivalent to 35% of her body weight. Her blood sugar levels have dropped to 1.5mmo/L, and doctors warn she is in "immediate danger to life." Soueif has refused artificial glucose or nutrition, relying solely on saline solution. Her deteriorating condition underscores the critical nature of her situation.

Doctors warned in a letter that Soueif's condition is "extremely serious" and emphasized that "stopping the hunger strike or accepting artificial glucose or nutrition is essential to reduce the risk to her life." However, she has firmly stated that she will not consider these recommendations until her son's case is resolved. This demonstrates her unwavering commitment to her cause.

Abd El-Fattah was a key figure in the 2011 Egyptian revolution that overthrew then-President Hosni Mubarak. He has been imprisoned for nearly a decade. On September 29, 2023, Abd El-Fattah was supposed to complete his five-year sentence for "spreading false news," but authorities failed to release him, refusing to credit him for the two years he spent in pre-trial detention. His continued imprisonment is a point of contention and fuels the protests.

Soueif has been on hunger strike since that day and has repeatedly called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to help secure her son's release. Despite her weakening physical condition, she continues to hold daily sit-in protests outside Downing Street. Her daughter, Sanaa Seif, took her to the emergency room at St Thomas' Hospital on Monday evening due to a sudden drop in blood sugar levels and facial numbness. These actions highlight her determination and the toll it takes on her health.

Seif said in an interview with the BBC on Wednesday: "It's a miracle she's still conscious. She's developed a tolerance for extremely low blood sugar." She added: "She refuses glucose treatment... if this continues, she will die. It's very difficult." Seif stated that doctors would discharge Soueif on Wednesday if she continued to refuse treatment. The dire consequences of her hunger strike are becoming increasingly evident.

Seif said she had tried to dissuade her mother from continuing her hunger strike. "We met with the Prime Minister, and he said he needed time," Seif said. "She told me she was right and the Foreign Office wasted a lot of time. If she eats now, who can guarantee they won't delay for another two years?" Seif pleaded: "The situation is very critical, and I urge the Prime Minister to intervene immediately and call President Sisi as soon as possible." Her plea underscores the urgency and desperation of the situation.

Seif stated: "I don't want her to die. I hope things don't get to the point where we need to save her, and I hope the government can take action." She added: "I respect everything she's doing, and I don't want to lose my mother." Her words convey the deep emotional distress and fear for her mother's life.

On February 14, Starmer made a "personal commitment" to Soueif regarding her son's release during a meeting. Following the meeting, he posted on X, promising to "continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government and urge his release." Starmer wrote to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on December 26 and January 8, and National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell discussed Alaa's case with Egyptian authorities in Cairo on January 2. These efforts demonstrate the government's engagement, but the lack of tangible results remains a concern.

However, according to the "Free Alaa Campaign," there has been no public contact between the British government and Egyptian authorities since then. During a Foreign Office question session on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Hamish Falconer, in response to a question from Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Layla Moran about Abd El-Fattah's case, stated that "the whole House is engaged in this case, and we all want Laila to be in better health." He added: "The Prime Minister has pledged to do everything he can to secure Alaa's release, and he will continue to do so." The continued emphasis on efforts to secure his release is a key message.

Moran was one of 50 parliamentarians who wrote to Starmer on January 29, calling on him to "intensify efforts across government to make Alaa's urgent release a reality." The letter stated: "We believe that a direct conversation between you and President Sisi about Alaa's case, whether in person or by telephone, is essential to achieving our shared goal of Alaa's safe return to his family in Brighton and ending Laila Soueif's hunger strike." This highlights the perceived need for direct intervention at the highest levels to resolve the situation.