London/Cairo – British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah’s prolonged hunger strike has raised alarm among human rights groups and the UK government, who describe the development as increasingly grave.
Abdel Fattah, a prominent figure in Egypt’s 2011 revolution and one of the country’s most well-known political prisoners, has been on hunger strike for months to protest his detention conditions and demand access to his legal and consular rights.
The UK government has reiterated calls for immediate consular access, stressing that his deteriorating health poses a “devastating risk.” Rights groups, including Amnesty International, warn that his situation underscores broader concerns about Egypt’s crackdown on dissent.
Family members say they fear for his life, urging swift international intervention. “Every day that passes without urgent action brings him closer to the brink,” his sister, activist Sanaa Seif, told reporters.
Abdel Fattah, currently held in Wadi El Natrun prison, has become a symbol of Egypt’s struggle for human rights and political freedoms. His case continues to strain diplomatic relations between Cairo and London, with the UK insisting on its duty to protect a citizen facing life-threatening circumstances.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are on whether Egyptian authorities will heed international appeals before the situation turns irreversibly tragic.
