- David Gritten
- BBC
The family of Alaa Abdel-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist imprisoned in Egypt, said they received proof that their son was still alive after he went on hunger strike.
According to his letter, written two days ago, he “drinks water” and “receives health care”.
His family has not contacted him since he went on a water strike on November 6, coinciding with the launch of the ‘COP 27’ climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.
On Thursday, his mother said officials at Wadi al-Natrun prison, northeast of Cairo, had told her that her son had undergone “medical intervention with the knowledge of the judicial authorities.”
Prison authorities also banned his lawyer on Thursday and Sunday, despite the permits granted by the prosecutor.
Meanwhile, the prosecution said a medical report showed that Abdel Fattah was in “good health”, without providing any proof.
The 40-year-old activist, jailed for “spreading fake news”, has become a symbol for the many political prisoners human rights groups believe are languishing in Egyptian jails. Egypt insists that none of them exist.
The short message Abdel-Fattah wrote to his mother, Laila Soueif, is dated Saturday at 4pm local time (2pm GMT).
“How are you mom? I’m sure you’re very worried about me. As of today I’m drinking water again so you can stop worrying until you show me in person. Today’s vitals are fine,” the message reads.
Abdel-Fattah promises to write a longer letter later and asks his mother to bring his MP3 player, vitamins and effervescent salts to prison.
image copyright EPA
Sanaa, Alaa Abdel-Fattah’s sister, asked why the letter was kept for two days
Alaa’s sister Sana, who is in Sharm El-Sheikh lobbying for his release, said: “Today is the first day I can breathe normally in eight days.”
And she added: “Now that we know he’s alive. I still recognized his handwriting, but after reading and re-reading the letter, it prompts me to ask more than one question. Why are they refusing to meet him?” with a lawyer while having permission to do so.”
He continued, “Why did they have his talk with them for two days? It’s brutal to punish a family for talking.”
Sana indicated that her brother is still on hunger strike, and is still prohibited from meeting with British consulate officials, and is still being arbitrarily detained without a light at the end of the tunnel.
He also said: “Even with all the global attention on Alaa’s case, the Egyptian authorities are still pressing for his disappearance. Alaa needs to be put on a plane to London, and only then will we allow ourselves to feel any real relief.”
Abdel-Fattah was granted British citizenship last year because his mother was born in London. Alaa went on a partial hunger strike seven months ago in order to pressure the authorities to at least allow British diplomats to visit him.
He wrote in an Oct. 31 letter that he would drink only water until COP27 started and then stop.
As concerns about Abdel-Fattah’s health grow, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he called for his urgent release in a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday.
US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Schultz and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk have also urged Egypt to release Abdel Fattah.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told the Radio Times on Monday morning that he was “watching the matter very closely”.
“What we will do is continue working to secure his contact with the consulate because he has British nationality and that is what we expect and we will continue to press for a solution on this very long and difficult matter,” he said. .
