Supporters of British-Egyptian activist jailed in Cairo hit out at Keir Starmer at ‘lack of concrete progress’ after PM pledged to do everything to get him released

More than 100 Parliamentarians have signed a letter calling for the PM to take urgent action to secure the release of a British man who has been a political prisoner in Egypt for a decade.

Alaa Abd el Fattah, 43, who has dual citizenship, has been imprisoned in Wadi El Natrun prison in Cairo after being arrested for his activist work in support of democracy and human rights in the country.

His supporters this week hit out at Sir Keir Starmer for a ‘lack of concrete progress’ as his plight was brought up in the Commons again on Wednesday, after the PM previously promised to do everything possible to secure his release.

Mr Abd el Fattah was jailed on terrorism charges in 2019 following a social media post about torture which saw him repost a claim that a fellow prisoner had died. He has been in prison for the best part of the last decade after his arrest in the aftermath of a military coup in 2013.

His family had hoped he would be released at the end of his five-year sentence in September 2024, but unusually, the Egyptian government has kept him incarcerated, refusing to count his time on remand as part of his sentence. 

During his detention he has regularly been on hunger strike, often joined by his mother Laila Soueif, 68, who lives in the UK.

The family’s supporters are now piling the pressure on Starmer to intervene and secure Mr Abd el Fattah’s release, citing serious concerns over the health of Ms Soueif, who has been on hunger strike since September, and Mr Abd el Fattah, who has been on hunger strike for more than 80 days. 

The letter states: ‘We write with mounting concern about the lack of concrete progress on Alaa’s case, more than two months after your call with President Sisi.

Alaa Abd el Fattah, 43, is in Wadi El Natrun prison in Cairo, where he has been incarcerated for most of the past decade

During his detention he has regularly been on hunger strike, often joined by his mother Laila Soueif (centre) , 68, who lives in the UK

‘Time is in desperately short supply in this case. Alaa has been acutely unwell in prison, experiencing vomiting, stomach pains, dizziness and blurred vision.

‘Meanwhile, Laila’s health continues to deteriorate. She has not eaten proper food for more than seven months.

‘Prime Minister, we remain gravely concerned about the implications for Alaa’s family if the path to resolve his case and secure his release cannot be found very soon.

‘There is also no doubt in our minds that if the health of Laila or Alaa is further damaged by this ordeal, this would have serious long-term implications for the British-Egyptian bilateral relationship.

‘We urge you to deploy every tool at your Government’s disposal at this vital stage. We offer our support to your efforts on behalf of Alaa and his family in any way needed.’

It was organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs, which is currently chaired by the SNP’s Brendan O’Hara.

MPs who signed the letter included Diane Abbott, Iain Duncan Smith, Layla Moran, Jeremy Corbyn and Nadia Whittome. 

Ms Soueif’s loved ones said in April that they were concerned she was ‘dying in slow motion’ after being on hunger strike for more than 200 days.

Ms Soueif carries out a daily ‘sit-in’ where she sits outside Downing Street holding signs and photos of her son

MPs who signed the letter included Diane Abbott, Iain Duncan Smith, Layla Moran, Jeremy Corbyn and Nadia Whittome (Pictured: Signs calling for Mr Abd el Fattah’s release)

She was admitted to St Thomas’ hospital in London in February and received a glucose drip which is thought to have saved her life, and she was discharged after agreeing to consume 300 calories per day.

Her nephew Omar Robert Hamilton said at the time: ‘Three hundred calories a day is not enough to sustain life, her muscles are being eaten away. It’s like she is dying in slow motion.’

She is said to be so weak that she can no longer stand upright. 

The mother carries out a daily ‘sit-in’ where she sits outside Downing Street holding signs and photos of her son.

Starmer spoke with the Egyptian President on February 28 and ‘pressed for his release’, Downing Street said.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy then also spoke to his counterpart on April 9.

Independent MP John McDonnell raised Mr Abd el Fattah’s case during PMQs on Wednesday: ‘I want to thank the Prime Minister for fulfilling his promise to contact President Sisi of Egypt to secure Alaa’s release.

‘But unfortunately, months on now, and Alaa remains in prison, and Laila, this week, has started her hunger strike again. Can I appeal to him to speak directly again to President Sisi to secure Alaa’s release?’

Sir Keir replied: ‘Can I thank him for raising this, not just today, but on the many occasions that he has, it is incredibly important that we do everything we can.

‘In this case, I have met Laila and given her my commitment to do everything I possibly can. I have had a number of contacts myself, but I am not going to stop doing everything within my power to secure release.’

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