Lammy: Number one issue to secure release of jailed pro-democracy activist
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Freeing a British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist is the “number one issue” and senior UK officials will “do all we can”, according to the Foreign Secretary. David Lammy said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has made representations over the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah with his Egyptian counterpart in recent days while the national security adviser (NSA), Jonathan Powell, also visited the country.
Mr Abd El-Fattah, 43, has been detained in Egypt since September 29 2019 and in December 2021 was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news. He has spent most of the past decade in prison because of his criticism of Egypt’s rulers and is unable to see his young son who lives in Brighton.
His mother, Laila Soueif, 68, has spent more than 100 days on hunger strike and has vowed not to eat until he is freed. Campaigners last month urged Sir Keir to do more to help free Mr Abd El-Fattah and argued his direct intervention with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi could resolve matters.
Speaking at Foreign Office questions, Independent MP John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) said: “Could I ask the Foreign Secretary to update us on the representations that he and the Prime Minister have made to the president of Egypt to secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah?.
