In brief
In a heart-wrenching plea, Laila Soueif, a British-Egyptian maths professor, is maintaining her hunger strike even as her health deteriorates dangerously after eight months. Doctors have warned her about the risk of sudden death, but her resolve remains unshaken. Interviewed from St Thomas’ hospital in London, the 69-year-old expressed her desire to live but also her readiness to sacrifice everything for the release of her son, Alaa Abdel Fattah—Egypt’s most notable political prisoner.
Alaa, a dual British-Egyptian national, has been imprisoned for nearly a decade following his involvement in pro-democracy protests during Egypt's 2011 revolution. His latest five-year sentence was handed down after he posted a Facebook statement about a victim of torture. His mother’s hunger strike, which began in September 2024 when Alaa's sentence should have been completed, is fueled by frustration over the Egyptian authorities' refusal to honor his time served.Laila previously consumed only herbal tea, black coffee, and rehydration salts but resumed her hunger strike fully in May after failing to see any progress in her son’s situation. Now hospitalized, she receives intravenous electrolytes but refuses glucose treatment, causing her daughter, Sanaa, deep concern. As Sanaa described, ‘it’s very scary,’ noting that her mother has begun to say farewell to her family.Amid calls for the British government to intervene, including from MPs and the UN, Laila's hunger strike has spotlighted the broader issue of political prisoners in Egypt, prompting her daughter to express pride in her mother’s dedication while voicing frustration with the UK government’s handling of the situation.Laila Soueif’s defiance aims to inspire greater action for the release of her son and all political detainees. In her bleak yet resolute state, her message to the world is clear: she wishes for her sacrifice to serve as leverage for her son's freedom. "Don't let my death be in vain," she declares, underscoring the urgency and gravity of her fight for justice in Egypt.
