Sanaa Seif, sister of writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist imprisoned in Egypt, is staging a sit-in outside the Foreign Office
(Picture: PA)The family of a writer on hunger strike in an Egyptian prison are camping outside the Foreign Office in central London in a bid to help secure his freedom - and plan to stay there until next month.
British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah has spent most of the past decade behind bars in Egypt and last December was sentenced to five years after being accused of spreading false news.
He is on a hunger strike that sees him consume just 100 calories a day, and his family say they fear for his health as he now "looks like a skeleton".
This week, his sisters Sanaa and Mona Seif and other family members have begun a sit-in outside the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in Whitehall, aiming to pressure the department into helping negotiate his release.
They have with them tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses and warm clothing, and intend to stay there until the Cop27 climate change summit in Egypt, which begins on November 6.
Sanaa said: "I don't feel like there have been any steps taken to secure my brother's safety and release. I want to put pressure on the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to act and basically have a plan.
"I'm not a politician, but for months we've been hearing that there is sympathy, everybody's on board.
"Liz Truss, when she was foreign secretary, responded to one of our letters and said that they continue to raise Alaa's case.
"But we haven't seen any progress on the ground and still Alaa is denied consular access from the British embassy and still the Egyptian authorities refuse to acknowledge his British citizenship.
"I know that Britain has leverage and they can use that leverage, it's not just lip service."
A small gathering was outside the Foreign Office on Tuesday evening, with placards reading "James Cleverly bring my brother home" and "Free Alaa".
It's my first night outside @FCDOGovUK , I hope @JamesCleverly hears us out and brings my brother home soon!
— Sanaa (@sana2) October 18, 2022
Thankful to every single person who showed up today 🙏♥️. Especially our MP @DavidLammy . #FreeAlaa pic.twitter.com/ynzyZRiKEF
Mr Abd El-Fattah has been on a partial hunger strike in the Cairo jail for 200 days, limiting himself to around 100 calories a day.
"Last time my mum saw him he looked really frail,” said Sanaa. “His mind was still alert but he looked really frail and he can barely stand.
"I don't know how much his body can take any more. He looks like skeleton, basically. He writes letters and his mind is awake. But of course, 100 calories can't keep you alive for long.
"He's been lately very emotional, but is not hopeful that he will be out. But he's been very emotional and loving because he feels that we as family are doing our best to try and support him.
"To the Government, I would say the French have done it, the Americans have done it, Britain is capable of doing it.
"Just put it on your agenda, put it on your to-do list, you can save my brother."
On Tuesday David Lammy, shadow foreign secretary and the family’s constituency MP, visited the camp.
He said in a statement he is “really concerned” for Mr Abd El-Fattah, who is “losing health”.
Last night Shadow Foreign Sec @DavidLammy visited @sana2’s sit-in at the Foreign Office in open support of @alaa. “We’re really concerned.. Alaa is a British National. And what we can’t do is cut loose British Nationals.. We need him home safe & well. This has gone on too long” pic.twitter.com/XKKCa6xonJ
— Free Alaa (@FreedomForAlaa) October 19, 2022
“He is a British national, and what we can’t do is cut loose British nationals who find themselves in this position,” he said.
He added that he is “dedicated” to ensuring Foreign Office support is there for British people overseas, adding that he will continue making representations to the Egyptian authorities in a bid to get Mr Abd El-Fattah home safely.
”We want to see him home, safe and well,” he said. “This has now gone on for too long. Of course you should not have to resort to a sit-in to draw attention to such issues.”
He urged Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to “do all he can to bring this matter to a successful conclusion”.
Hollywood stars including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Emma Thompson, Mark Ruffalo and Carey Mulligan have also campaigned for Mr Abd El-Fattah’s release from prison.
An FCDO spokesperson said : “We are working hard to secure Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s release and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian Government. The Foreign Secretary most recently raised his case when he met Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry at the United Nations General Assembly last month.
“During her visit to Egypt, Foreign Minister Keegan met the family of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and raised our strong concerns about his detention with Foreign Minister Shoukry.”
