London – May 2025 — The mother of imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has resumed a full hunger strike, escalating her protest against her son’s continued detention in Egypt beyond the completion of his five-year sentence.
Dr. Laila Soueif, a mathematics professor and prominent advocate for human rights, had been on a partial hunger strike for the past three months, sustaining herself on 300 calories per day. She has now ceased all caloric intake, taking what she describes as a “life-endangering” step to draw attention to her son’s prolonged incarceration.
Soueif returned to London on Saturday after a visit to Egypt, during which she was able to see her son three times at Wadi el-Natrun prison. Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent writer and democracy activist, is himself on hunger strike. Tuesday marked the 81st day of his strike, during which he has reportedly consumed no calories.
In London, Soueif has resumed her daily one-hour vigil outside 10 Downing Street, calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to make her son’s case a diplomatic priority in the UK’s relations with Egypt. Her protest comes amid growing concern from human rights organizations over the activist’s health and continued detention.
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has become a symbol of Egypt’s crackdown on dissent. Despite holding British citizenship and having completed his sentence, he remains behind bars. His family and supporters argue that the UK government has not done enough to secure his release.
Soueif’s renewed hunger strike is intended to increase pressure on British officials to act urgently before her son’s condition becomes irreversible.
