Alaa Abd El-Fattah has been behind bars in Egypt for most of the past decade and was sentenced in December after being accused of spreading fake news. His sisters, Sanaa and Mona Seif, along with other family members, are protesting the jailing of the pro-democracy writer and activist. Image: The family of Alaa Abd El-Fattah received a letter from Rishi Sunak They started a Whitehall sit-in on October 18 and plan to continue until the COP27 conference. In an official letter, shared with Sky News by the prisoner’s family, Mr Sunak said he had “followed Alaa’s case closely and was concerned to learn of his deteriorating health”. He added: “I appreciate that this must be an extremely painful time for your brother and the whole family; he remains a priority for the British Government, both as a human rights defender and as a British citizen. “Ministers and officials continue to press for urgent consular access to Alaa, as well as to press for his release at the highest levels of the Egyptian government.” Mr Sunak told El-Fattah’s family that his predecessor Liz Truss had raised the case with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi. Image: Sanaa (left) and Mona Seif, the sisters of pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah “I will continue to emphasize to President Sisi the importance we attach to the speedy resolution of Alaa’s case and the end of his unacceptable treatment,” he wrote. “The UK presence at COP27 is another opportunity to put your brother’s case to the Egyptian leadership. “I would like to thank you again for writing and assure you that the government is deeply committed to doing everything we can to resolve Ala’s case as soon as possible.” “He could die during COP27” Mr Sunak’s letter comes as the activist’s family make increasingly desperate pleas for help. Mr El-Fattah has been on a “spiritual hunger strike” for around 200 days and recently told his family he would “escalate” the strike to no longer drinking water. Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge, his sister Sanaa Seif said she feared her brother would die while Mr Sunak was in Egypt for COP27. She said that when she last saw him in August, he was “already looking very, very weak” and “his eyes were sunken”. Ms Seif warned that the next time she is able to see Mr El-Fattah on November 16, it may be “too late”. Her family also want to know that Mr El-Fattah is still alive, urging the prime minister to get “proof of life” from the Egyptian authorities. She claimed her brother was being treated like a “terrorist” and denied basic rights, and had not seen his young son for more than a year. In an appeal to the government, she said the matter was “very urgent” and that she hoped politicians were not just paying “usual” to her family.
