The daughter of a 69-year-old woman on hunger strike over her son’s imprisonment in Egypt has said it is “a miracle” her mother is still alive.
Laila Soueif is now 245 days into surviving on water and rehydration salts, having begun her hunger strike on 29 September last year – the day after her British-Egyptian son, Alaa Abd el Fattah, was due to be released following a five-year prison sentence.
Laila was admitted to London’s St Thomas’ hospital on Thursday and amid fears for her life, her daughter Sanaa Soueif today told Sky News’ Matt Barbet the past two nights were “really tough”.
“It’s a miracle mum is alive,” she said. “At some point [last night] the blood sugar machine was not reading, but my mum is still conscious. She’s holding on.”
Activist Mr Fattah has been in prison more or less continuously since 2014 over his role in the pro-democracy Arab Spring protests in 2011.
He was briefly free for six months before being rearrested in 2019 for “disseminating false news” after retweeting a report that said another prisoner had died in custody.
“I need the British government to treat my brother like a hostage,” Sanaa said. “There is no legal merit to holding him any longer.”
Addressing the fact that the UK and Egypt have strong diplomatic ties, she added: “If you can’t get your friends to respect your citizens, then what chance do you stand with enemies?”
“It is very frustrating,” she said. “I think both governments are finally sensing the urgency, I just hope it’s not too late.
“I am updating the Foreign Office every hour, but they’re not acting with enough urgency that would save her.
“I’m hearing plans of weeks… We don’t have weeks. Keir Starmer needs to act now.”
In a letter to Laila, and shared by her family, a doctor warned on Friday that she is at an “immediate risk” of sudden death.
There is also a “clear risk” of “irreversible damage to organs including heart, brain and kidneys” which is “worsening the probability for complications upon future re-feeding,” they added.
More from Sky News:
Two Scottish people ‘shot dead’ in Spain
New UK weapons factories to be built ‘very soon’
Follow our channel and never miss an update
A Foreign Office spokesperson said on Saturday: “We are deeply concerned by Laila’s hospitalisation. We remain in regular contact with Laila’s family and have checked on her welfare. We are also in contact with the Egyptian authorities.
“We are committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s release and continue to press for this at the highest levels of the Egyptian government.”
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Hamish Falconer, minister for the Middle East, “conveyed our deep concerns about the situation in a call with the Egyptian ambassador” on Saturday, the statement added.
“Further engagement at the highest levels of the Egyptian government continues.”
