Actors Brian Cox, Mark Ruffalo and Bill Nighy are among celebrities calling on Keir Starmer to do more to secure Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s freedom as his mum fights for her life in hospital
Celebrities Brian Cox, Mark Ruffalo and Bill Nighy have pleaded with Keir Starmer to do more to free an imprisoned Brit whose hunger-striking mum is fighting for her life.
The trio are among supporters – also including Harry Potter star Emily Watson and actor Joseph Fiennes – who have written to the PM demanding tougher action to secure Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s freedom.
They warn it is “almost too late” to save his mother, Dr Laila Soueif, who was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in London last week. Pro-democracy writer Alaa is behind bars in Egypt, despite his heavily-criticised prison sentence expiring in September last year.
Dr Soueif, who has not eaten for 246 days, has lost more than seven stone, and has dangerously low blood sugar. Medics warn the 69-year-old is at risk of sudden death as her condition worsens.
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In their letter, supporters told the PM they are “watching with dismay as Dr. Laila Soueif risks death to save her son”. The letter continues: “Alaa should never have been imprisoned in the first place. He is an internationally respected writer and a brave advocate for democracy. He has now lost over ten years of his life to the prison cell. His most recent prison sentence expired on September 29 2024 – yet he is still behind bars.”
And they conclude: “Prime Minister, we are asking you to take bold, immediate action to save her life and to re-unite Alaa with his family. It is almost too late.”
Succession star Mr Cox has previously called on the PM to “pick up the phone” to Egyptian Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and negotiate Alaa’s release. And Hulk actor Mr Ruffalo is a longstanding supporter of the campaign to free him.
Alaa was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 for “spreading fake news” after criticising the Egyptian government. His family are desperate to get him back to the UK, where he has a 13-year-old son, Khaled, living in Brighton.
On Sunday Dr Souif told the PM: “Mr Starmer, you have told me that you are committed to doing everything to secure Alaa’s release, but Alaa is still in prison so obviously what you are doing is not the best that can be done.” She told LBC Radio: “I said from the beginning, I will continue until either Alaa has been released or my health collapses completely.”
She met with Mr Starmer in February, when the PM gave his “personal commitment” to securing Alaa’s release. He has spoken to the Egyptian President twice pressing for him to be freed.
The UN last week said Aala is being arbitrarily detained – placing an obligation on Egypt to release him immediately under international law. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are deeply concerned by Laila’s hospitalisation.
“We remain in regular contact with Laila’s family and have checked on her welfare. We are committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s release.
“The Foreign Secretary stressed the urgency of the situation in a call with his counterpart on Sunday morning, and further engagement at the highest levels of the Egyptian government continues.”