Egypt

Egypt: Jailed Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah Ends Hunger Strike

Published NOV 16 2022

Story

Image credit: The Associated Press

The Facts

The family of imprisoned Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah announced on Tuesday that he wrote a letter to them stating that he had broken his months-long hunger strike despite not being released.
nytimes
His sister Mona Seif has shared this letter — the second received by his family in two days — in which el-Fattah affirmed that he would explain everything to his family in their monthly visit to the Wadi el-Natrun on Thursday.
France 24
The activist, who turns 41 on Friday, also expressed his desire to celebrate his birthday with his family and cellmates and asked his family to "bring a cake."
guardian
This comes days after his family was told by Egyptian authorities that el-Fattah had "undergone a medical intervention" and his lawyer was barred from visiting him — prompting fears that he was being force-fed or placed on intravenous drips against his will.
BBC News
El-Fattah, who was a key figure in Egypt's 2011 revolution has been imprisoned for much of the time since. He started a partial hunger strike in April to protest his detention conditions consuming only 100 calories a day.
guardian
Earlier this month, he ramped up his hunger strike and stopped drinking water as world leaders convened in Egypt for the COP27 climate forum.
CNN

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This is a political persecution of a man who exercised his basic right to free speech and advocated for social reform. As a result, his life is now in great danger. Egyptian authorities need to release him immediately and ensure he receives medical attention.

Al Jazeera

Narrative B

The UN and other countries must stop meddling in Egypt's internal affairs based on false information about this case. The findings against El-Fattah have been made in line with Egypt's laws — the due process must continue.