Cautious optimism is building around efforts to secure Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s freedom after Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised the case directly with Egypt’s president. The British-Egyptian writer’s family sees tentative progress as diplomatic pressures mount.
Starmer’s third call with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi linked trade talks to Abd el-Fattah’s release. Downing Street’s statement hinted at incentives, noting both leaders discussed enhancing economic ties. Meanwhile, the dissident’s mother, Laila Soueif, paused her 270-day hunger strike after hospitalization. Doctors warned her condition had become critical, yet she remains cautiously optimistic.
Soueif, 69, now uses a wheelchair after severe muscle deterioration. Her daughter Sanaa Seif shared fears about permanent mobility damage. Still, optimism remains cautious after Foreign Secretary David Lammy assured MPs of a “working strategy.” Some lawmakers urge tougher measures, like revising UK travel advice to hurt Egypt’s tourism revenue.
The case has now escalated into a major test of UK-Egypt relations, with human rights groups and international observers closely monitoring developments. As pressure builds from both political circles and the public, analysts suggest Egypt may face growing reputational damage if it continues to ignore global calls for Abd el-Fattah’s release. This cautious optimism from British officials reflects delicate behind-the-scenes negotiations, though activists warn that without concrete progress soon, more drastic measures may be needed to secure justice for the imprisoned writer and his ailing mother.
Abd el-Fattah has been jailed since 2019 for protesting military trials. His 2021 retrial added five years over a reposted tweet about torture. While Egypt’s readout ignored his case, Starmer’s repeated interventions fuel hope. Supporters remain cautiously optimistic, though with Soueif’s health hanging by a thread, the clock ticks louder for diplomacy to deliver.
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