Laila Soueif is fighting for her life after going on hunger strike demanding the release of her son, British citizen Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who is desperate to be reunited with his son in Brighton
The family of a mum fighting for her life have called on Keir Starmer to “make that call” that could save her TODAY.
Laila Soueif has been on hunger strike for 150 days calling for the Government to secure the release of son Alaa Abd el-Fattah. British citizen Alaa, a pro-democracy activist, is in jail in Egypt despite his sentence for sharing criticism on Facebook ending last year.
Doctors say Laila, 68, is now in “immediate risk to life” but has refused to end her hunger strike. She has called on the PM to pick up the phone to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to secure Alaa’s release.
Mr Starmer was confronted about the case during PMQs by Labour MP John McDonnell – who called on him to make the call. Laila’s daughter Sanaa Seif said: “The doctors at the hospital are saying my mother could die at any moment.
“But if Keir Starmer would pick up the phone and speak to President Sisi, I believe that he can secure the release of my brother, and save my mother’s life. Keir Starmer has to make this call today. Every moment that he waits means that my mother is more likely to die.”
His family want him to be allowed back to the UK, where he has a 13-year-old son, Khaled, living in Brighton. Mr McDonnell said: “The Prime Minister will know because he’s met the family that his mother is on the 150th of her hunger strike and her health is failing rapidly. Could I ask the Prime Minister to pick up the phone to President Sisi and seek the release of Allah to save his life, also that of his mother?”
Mr Starmer responded: “As he says I did meet the mother and the other family just a few days ago. And it is an incredibly difficult situation for them.
“And I can assure him I will do everything I can to ensure the release in this case. And that includes phone calls as necessary.
“I’ve raised it before, I’ll raise it again. We raise it, and we’ll continue to do so. I gave my word for the family and that’s what I’ll do.”
Laila was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in central London on Monday. In a letter shared on social media, a doctor treating her said: “Her condition is now extremely serious and I have explained the gravity of her condition and the serious harms which will result from continued fasting. These include severely low blood sugars.
“I have explained that: there is now immediate risk to life including further deterioration or death, and that she is in particular at high risk of sudden death with continued fasting…”
The letter went on: “I have iterated the importance of ceasing her hunger strike or accepting artificial glucose or nutrition to reduce the risk to her life. She is however resolute that she will not consider this until resolution of the situation involving her son.”
Laila has now lost almost 30kg – 35% of her starting body weight. The 68-year-old has consumed nothing but herbal tea, black coffee and rehydration salts since September 29 2024.
She met the PM earlier this month, and the PM gave her his “personal commitment”. He said on February 16: “Having met Laila Soueif this week, my message is clear. I will do all that I can to secure the release of her son Alaa Abd el-Fattah and reunite him with his family. We will continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government and press for his release.”
Laila has called on Mr Starmer to speak directly to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to secure Alaa’s release. The Prime Minister has written to Mr el-Sisi twice, and his National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, discussed the case with Egyptian authorities in Cairo in January.
