Britain Urged to Secure Release of British-Egyptian Activist

16 Sept

Alaa Abd El Fattah enters his fifth year in a maximum security prison

Alaa Abd El Fattah, a British-Egyptian coder, blogger, and activist, is entering his fifth year in a maximum-security prison outside Cairo. Fattah’s incarceration has drawn widespread condemnation, with supporters calling for his immediate release as he continues to endure harsh conditions, including beatings, solitary confinement, and limited contact with his family. His detention, based on charges of supporting free speech and privacy rights, highlights the Egyptian government's ongoing crackdown on activists.

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Fattah, a prominent figure in the Arab Spring and advocate for free speech across the Middle East and North Africa, has spent much of the past decade in prison, facing charges under Egypt’s stringent anti-speech laws. The latest charges, linked to a Facebook post about human rights violations in prison, led to his current five-year sentence. His imprisonment is part of Egypt's broader repression of dissent, particularly targeting those who use technology to promote open dialogue.

Five Years of Injustice

Fattah’s legal troubles date back to 2006, when he was first arrested for participating in a demonstration. He has since faced multiple arrests, detentions, and convictions under successive Egyptian regimes. His activism during the Tahrir Square protests and his efforts to build online communities for free expression have made him a prominent voice in the fight against authoritarianism and censorship in the region.

In 2022, Fattah undertook a seven-month hunger strike in protest of his treatment, raising concerns for his health. While international pressure, including from British officials, has led to improvements in his prison conditions and allowed his family visitation rights, Fattah remains unjustly imprisoned. His family continues to fear that the Egyptian government has no intention of releasing him.

Diplomatic Pressure from the UK

Fattah’s dual British-Egyptian citizenship, granted in 2021 through his mother, Laila Soueif, has made his case a matter of diplomatic concern. British officials, including former Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, previously expressed their commitment to securing his release. David Lammy, now the UK’s Foreign Secretary, has been an outspoken advocate for Fattah’s freedom, calling on Parliament to take diplomatic action against Egypt for denying consular access to a British citizen.

Lammy’s involvement, alongside Fattah’s family and international organizations, helped amplify global awareness of his plight, particularly during the runup to COP27 in 2022. Despite this increased attention and promises from the UK government, no substantial progress has been made in securing his freedom.

Renewed Hope Under the Labour Government

With a new Labour government in place, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, there is renewed hope for Fattah’s release. Starmer has publicly supported Fattah’s case, reinforcing calls for diplomatic efforts to pressure Egypt into freeing him. Advocates argue that the UK must uphold its commitment to human rights and demand the release of its citizen.

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