In brief
Laila Soueif, mother of political prisoner Alaa Abd El Fattah, has entered her 55th day of hunger strike, rallying for her son's freedom and raising awareness of Egypt's oppressive detainee policies under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
After a few days without food, the human body adapts, learning to function in weakness. This is how Laila Soueif, an Egyptian mathematician and professor, frames her ongoing hunger strike, which reached a staggering 55 days on Saturday. The strike commenced on September 29, when it became clear that her son, Alaa Abd El Fattah, who is among Egypt's most prominent political prisoners, would not be released after serving a five-year sentence.Egyptian authorities delivered a letter declaring that they would not be acknowledging Abd El Fattah’s two years of pretrial detention—a practice that has become increasingly common in the country. As a result, the 43-year-old's release date is now pushed to 2027, although family members express fears he may face indefinite detention.Laila Soueif, 68, has taken a firm stance against the repression orchestrated by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi since his military takeover in 2013. Rights organizations have reported that tens of thousands of political dissenters are currently imprisoned under this regime. Soueif’s hunger strike is sustained by water, rehydration salts, and unsweetened tea and coffee, and she maintains a steadfast resolve to continue until her son's freedom is secured. “I won’t back down and I will be very visible,” Soueif emphasized in an interview in London. “When people ask, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I say, ‘I’m creating a crisis.’” This determined stand by Soueif not only shines a light on her son's plight but also amplifies the narrative of countless political prisoners in Egypt who are suffering under a regime that continues to suppress dissent through heavy-handed tactics.
