British PM to lift starvation striker Abd el-Fattah’s case throughout COP27 By Reuters

CAIRO (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has mentioned he’ll elevate the case of Egyptian-British starvation striker Alaa Abd el-Fattah with Egypt’s management in the course of the COP27 local weather summit that opened on Sunday, the identical day Abd el-Fattah mentioned he would cease ingesting water.

Abd al-Fattah rose to prominence with Egypt’s 2011 rebellion however has been detained for many of the interval since. Sentenced most not too long ago in December 2021 to 5 years on fees of spreading false information, he has been on starvation strike for 219 days in opposition to his detention and jail situations.

In a letter dated Nov. 5 to Abd el-Fattah’s sister Sanaa Seif, and posted by his household on social media, Sunak wrote that the case remained a precedence for the British authorities and had been raised with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi a number of instances.

“I’ll proceed to emphasize to President Sisi the significance that we connect to the swift decision of Alaa’s case and an finish to his unacceptable remedy,” Sunak wrote.

“The UK’s attendance at COP27 is one other alternative to lift your brother’s case with the Egyptian management.”

Sunak’s workplace confirmed the letter.

Egyptian officers haven’t responded to Reuters’ telephone requires touch upon Abd el-Fattah’s case, however have mentioned beforehand that he was receiving meals and was moved to a jail with higher situations earlier this 12 months.

Abd el-Fattah’s household mentioned he was solely consuming minimal energy and a few fibre to maintain himself earlier within the 12 months. After household visits in October his sister, Sanaa Seif mentioned: “He seems to be very weak, he is fading away slowly, he seems to be like a skeleton.”

Abd el-Fattah’s household mentioned he had instructed them he would cease consuming honey, tea and milk on Nov. 1 and deliberate to stop ingesting water from Sunday.

“I contemplate lights on round 10am as a sign of a brand new day,” he wrote in his most up-to-date letter to his household. “With the turning on of the lights on Sunday Nov. 6, I am going to drink my final cup of water … something after that’s unknown.”

Egyptian authorities needed to act inside three days to avoid wasting Abd el-Fattah, the top of Amnesty Worldwide, Agnes Callamard, instructed a press convention in Cairo.

“Let’s be very clear, we’re working out of time,” she mentioned.