Who is Alaa Abd el-Fattah and why is he imprisoned in Egypt?
2 years, 2 months ago

Who is Alaa Abd el-Fattah and why is he imprisoned in Egypt?

Al Jazeera  

The Egyptian-British activist stopped drinking water on Sunday in an effort to bring attention to his plight as COP27 began. Concern over the fate of jailed Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah is growing as he continues to stage a hunger strike in protest against his years-long detention by Egyptian authorities on charges of spreading disinformation. The UK government has said it is “deeply concerned” by Abd el-Fattah’s case and is “doing everything it can” to secure his release. “The government must make clear there will be serious diplomatic consequences if consular access is not granted immediately and Alaa Abd el-Fattah is not released and reunited with his family.” For too long this government’s diplomacy has been weak. The government must make clear there will be serious diplomatic consequences if consular access is not granted immediately and Alaa Abd el-Fattah is not released and reunited with his family.

Prison British Egypt Egyptian His Family His Release Abd Cop27  imprisoned  released  citizenship  cop27  hunger  abd  egyptian  alaa  prison  days  elfattah  egypt

History of this topic

Mother of jailed Egyptian-British activist hopes she doesn’t die in hunger strike to secure his release
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Mother of jailed Egyptian-British activist hopes she doesn’t die in hunger strike to secure his release

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I hope I won’t die …

Family and rights groups urge Egypt to free imprisoned activist as his 5-year sentence ends
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Family and rights groups urge Egypt to free imprisoned activist as his 5-year sentence ends

Associated Press  

LONDON — Rights groups and the family of convicted Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah on Thursday called on authorities to release him at the end of his five-year sentence next week. The 42-year old activist spent most of the past decade behind bars and his detention has become a symbol of Egypt’s return to autocratic rule under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. …

Family and rights groups urge Egypt to free imprisoned activist as his 5-year sentence ends
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Family and rights groups urge Egypt to free imprisoned activist as his 5-year sentence ends

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rights groups and the family …

Rights group sees retaliation as the motive for jailing an Egyptian presidential challenger
11 months ago

Rights group sees retaliation as the motive for jailing an Egyptian presidential challenger

Associated Press  

CAIRO — A leading human rights group dismissed on Thursday the conviction of a prominent Egyptian political activist as an act of retaliation for his decision to challenge President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in last year’s presidential election. On Tuesday, a Cairo misdemeanor court sentenced former presidential hopeful Ahmed Altantawy, along with 22 of his aides, including his campaign manager, to …

Egyptian rights group says 73 supporters of a presidential challenger have been arrested
1 year, 3 months ago

Egyptian rights group says 73 supporters of a presidential challenger have been arrested

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Egyptian authorities have detained at least 73 campaign volunteers for a challenger to incumbent President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in the December election, a rights group said Tuesday. Egypt’s chairman of the National Election Authority, Waleed Hamza, on Monday announced details of elections due by next year, saying the presidential polling would be held over three days in December. …

Egypt’s President el-Sisi pardons prominent activist Douma, other prisoners
1 year, 4 months ago

Egypt’s President el-Sisi pardons prominent activist Douma, other prisoners

Al Jazeera  

Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma, a leading figure in 2011 uprising, has been granted a presidential pardon, lawyers say. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has pardoned a number of prisoners, including prominent Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma, state TV and lawyers have said. “President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi … has used his constitutional powers” to pardon several prisoners including Douma, said lawyer Tarek …

Two prominent Egyptian rights figures are released from prison following presidential pardons
1 year, 5 months ago

Two prominent Egyptian rights figures are released from prison following presidential pardons

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Egypt on Thursday released two human rights defenders, including one who has ties with Italy, their lawyers said, concluding two cases that drew significant international criticism and attention. Zaki said he hoped to arrive in Italy “in the next two days,’’ the Italian news agency ANSA said, in a written article. In a recorded speech late Wednesday, Italian …

El-Sisi pardons Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer
1 year, 5 months ago

El-Sisi pardons Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer

Al Jazeera  

Egypt’s President el-Sisi has pardoned two prominent rights defenders, a lawyer and an activist with ties to Italy. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has pardoned detained human rights researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer, state-run media has reported. “We welcome the news of their pardon and call for the immediate release of thousands still detained in Egypt on political …

‘Fresh approaches’ needed to free activist Abd el-Fattah: UK MPs
1 year, 6 months ago

‘Fresh approaches’ needed to free activist Abd el-Fattah: UK MPs

Al Jazeera  

More than 100 politicians from various parties call on the government to step up diplomatic efforts as rights campaigner languishes in Egyptian jail. More than 100 British MPs and peers have written to the foreign secretary, concerned by the lack of progress in the case of jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah. Over 100 UK Parliamentarians lay out practical steps …

Egyptian politician who vowed to run for president returns to Egypt, after relatives were detained
1 year, 7 months ago

Egyptian politician who vowed to run for president returns to Egypt, after relatives were detained

Associated Press  

LONDON — An Egyptian politician vowing to run in the country’s presidential elections next year returned to Egypt Thursday, days after announcing that his relatives had been detained. “I ask your permission for five days to spend in the bosom of my family who need me and I need them.” Next year’s presidential election is widely anticipated to be a …

Egypt announces freedom, mass pardon for 30 jailed activists
2 years, 1 month ago

Egypt announces freedom, mass pardon for 30 jailed activists

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Egypt announced late Thursday the release of 30 political activists from jail, the latest in a series of mass releases from detention amid intensifying international scrutiny over the country’s human rights record. He said the 30 had been in pre-trial detention, facing charges related to their “opinions.” El-Awady later posted photographs, describing them as showing several of the …

Imprisoned Egyptian activist calls off hunger strike
2 years, 1 month ago

Imprisoned Egyptian activist calls off hunger strike

Associated Press  

CAIRO — The family of imprisoned Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah said Tuesday they received a letter from him saying he has ended his hunger strike. Fears had been mounting over Abdel-Fattah’s life since he stopped intake of all food, then stopped drinking water on Nov. 6, escalating a months-long partial hunger strike to pressure for his release. “I feel cautiously …

Family says Egyptian hunger-striking activist drinking water
2 years, 1 month ago

Family says Egyptian hunger-striking activist drinking water

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Egypt’s imprisoned hunger-striking activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah has started drinking water again, his family said Monday, in the first communication from the prominent dissident in over a week amid fears for his life. One of Egypt’s most prominent pro-democracy campaigners, Abdel-Fattah had intensified his hunger strike on Nov. 6, at the start of the U.N. climate conference, known as …

Jailed Egyptian activist on hunger strike is hospitalized, family says
2 years, 2 months ago

Jailed Egyptian activist on hunger strike is hospitalized, family says

The Hindu  

Egyptian prison authorities have intervened medically with jailed pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who this week escalated a food and water strike demanding his release, coinciding with Egypt’s hosting of the U.N. climate summit, his mother said. The nature of the intervention was not known, but the family has expressed fears prison officials would force-feed Mr. Abdel-Fattah, which they said would …

Pressure mounts on Egypt to release dissident Alaa Abdel Fattah
2 years, 2 months ago

Pressure mounts on Egypt to release dissident Alaa Abdel Fattah

The Hindu  

International pressure mounted on Tuesday for the "immediate release" of Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, whose family fears for his life after he escalated his hunger strike by refusing water too as COP-27 opened. Abdel Fattah, currently serving a five-year sentence for "spreading false news" for reposting a Facebook post about police brutality, has been leading headlines during the U.N. …

UN rights chief: Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s life in great danger
2 years, 2 months ago

UN rights chief: Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s life in great danger

Al Jazeera  

The life of jailed hunger striker Alaa Abd el-Fattah is in great danger, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said, renewing a call for Egypt to immediately release him. “I urge the Egyptian government to immediately release Abd el-Fattah from prison and provide him with the necessary medical treatment,” Turk said in a statement on Tuesday, …

Amnesty: Egypt has days to save jailed activist’s life
2 years, 2 months ago

Amnesty: Egypt has days to save jailed activist’s life

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Amnesty International’s head on Sunday warned that the proceedings of COP27 in Egypt could be stained by the death of one of the country’s leading rights activists from a hunger and water strike in prison if Egyptian authorities do not release him within days. Secretary General of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard said Egypt had no more than 72 …

Jailed Egyptian activist on ‘water strike’ as UK PM vows support
2 years, 2 months ago

Jailed Egyptian activist on ‘water strike’ as UK PM vows support

Al Jazeera  

Alaa Abd el-Fattah has stopped drinking water, his family says, as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vows to lobby for his release. Jailed Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has stopped drinking water, his family said on Sunday, escalating his hunger strike as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will raise his case with Cairo during the COP27 …

Nobel winners call attention to Egypt political prisoners
2 years, 2 months ago

Nobel winners call attention to Egypt political prisoners

Associated Press  

LONDON — A group of winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature urged world leaders on Wednesday to raise human rights issues as they visit Egypt for the COP27 climate change conference. In a letter sent to various heads of state, the group of 15 Nobel Laureates asked the visiting diplomats and politicians to “devote part of your agenda to …

Alaa-Abdel Fattah: Nobel prize winners urge release of Briton held in Egypt
2 years, 2 months ago

Alaa-Abdel Fattah: Nobel prize winners urge release of Briton held in Egypt

The Independent  

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other world leaders have been urged by the majority of living Nobel Literature Prize winners to demand the release of British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd El-Fattah who has been unlawfully jailed in Egypt. In an open letter in advance of the summit, 15 living Nobel Literature Prize winners called on Mr Sunak, foreign secretary James Cleverly …

Nobel winners call attention to Egypt political prisoners
2 years, 2 months ago

Nobel winners call attention to Egypt political prisoners

The Hindu  

A group of winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature urged world leaders on Wednesday to raise human rights issues as they visit Egypt for the COP27 climate change conference. In a letter sent to various heads of state, the group of 15 Nobel Laureates asked the visiting diplomats and politicians to “devote part of your agenda to the many …

COP27: Nobel Prize winners demand Egypt free political prisoners
2 years, 2 months ago

COP27: Nobel Prize winners demand Egypt free political prisoners

Al Jazeera  

More than a dozen Nobel Literature laureates have called on world leaders to pressure the COP27 International Climate Conference host, Egypt, to free the “thousands” of political prisoners languishing in the country’s prisons, including prominent jailed Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah. In the letter, sent to the United Nations, the European Council, and heads of state in France, the United …

Family: Egypt activist in prison starts ‘full hunger strike’
2 years, 2 months ago

Family: Egypt activist in prison starts ‘full hunger strike’

Associated Press  

LONDON — Egypt’s most prominent imprisoned activist went on a “full hunger strike”’ on Tuesday and plans to stop drinking water on the first day of the global climate summit next week, his family said. As international spotlight focuses on Egypt ahead of the climate summit — or COP27 — in the Red Sea town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Abdel-Fattah’s family …

‘Dead or free’: Alaa Abd el-Fattah escalates hunger strike
2 years, 2 months ago

‘Dead or free’: Alaa Abd el-Fattah escalates hunger strike

Al Jazeera  

The jailed British-Egyptian activist will stop drinking water on Sunday as world leaders gather at COP27. Prominent jailed Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has begun a full hunger strike ahead of the COP27 climate summit, as supporters say he will be either dead or free when world leaders convene in Sharm el-Sheikh next week. Abd el-Fattah said in a letter …

Amnesty urges Egypt to free activist detained for 1,000 days
2 years, 6 months ago

Amnesty urges Egypt to free activist detained for 1,000 days

The Hindu  

Amnesty International has called for the release of prominent Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who on Saturday marks 1,000 days of “unjust detention”. “Tomorrow marks 1,000 days of unjust detention for prominent blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director Amna Guellali called Abdel Fattah “a symbol of resistance and freedom in Egypt and …

Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah’s health worsens in Egyptian prison
2 years, 7 months ago

Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah’s health worsens in Egyptian prison

Al Jazeera  

Egypt’s human rights body calls for the activist’s transfer to a better facility, as Abdel Fattah’s family calls for his release. An Egyptian government-appointed human rights body has urged the country’s authorities to transfer the imprisoned activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to another detention centre with better health facilities, as his condition deteriorates. The head of the National Human Rights Council, …

Jailed Egypt activist becomes UK citizen in push for freedom
2 years, 8 months ago

Jailed Egypt activist becomes UK citizen in push for freedom

Associated Press  

LONDON — A leading Egyptian pro-democracy activist who has been imprisoned for more than 3 1/2 years has obtained a British passport, his family announced Monday. Last year, Abdel-Fattah’s family and his Egyptian lawyers accused prison authorities in Cairo’s Tora Prison of torturing him and denying him basic legal rights. Abdel-Fattah’s family said in a statement Monday that he gained …

Jailed Egypt activist Abdel Fattah becomes UK citizen: Family
2 years, 8 months ago

Jailed Egypt activist Abdel Fattah becomes UK citizen: Family

Al Jazeera  

The family of Alaa Abdel Fattah has appealed to British authorities to seek consular access to visit him in prison. Jailed Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has obtained British citizenship from inside prison, his family has said. As a British citizen, Abdel Fattah also requests he be allowed to communicate with the family’s lawyers in the UK “so that they …

Jailed activist Ramy Shaath to be freed from Egypt detention
3 years ago

Jailed activist Ramy Shaath to be freed from Egypt detention

Al Jazeera  

Judicial sources say Egyptian-Palestinian political campaigner, held for almost 30 months, will be deported to France upon his release. Prosecutors in Egypt have ordered the release of Egyptian-Palestinian political activist Ramy Shaath, after almost 30 months in detention, according to reports citing judicial and security sources. His wife, French national Celine Lebrun, told the AFP news agency: “I heard about …

Egypt’s leading activist gets 5 years; 2 others get 4 years
3 years ago

Egypt’s leading activist gets 5 years; 2 others get 4 years

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Egypt on Monday sentenced one of the country’s most prominent activists to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news, a defense lawyer said. Along with Abdel-Fattah, the Emergency State Security Court in Cairo on Monday also sentenced Abdel-Fattah’s former lawyer, Mohammed el-Baker, and fellow activist Mohamed Ibrahim, also known as Mohamed Oxygen, to four years …

Egypt jails leading activist Alaa Abdel Fattah for five years
3 years ago

Egypt jails leading activist Alaa Abdel Fattah for five years

Al Jazeera  

Egypt sentences Abdel Fattah, a leading figure in the 2011 revolution, to jail with two others for speaking ‘fake news’. Prominent Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been sentenced to five years in prison, his sister and a judicial source said, after being tried on charges of spreading fake news. “Alaa was sentenced to five years, Baqer four years and …

Hosni Mubarak dies at 91, says Egypt's state TV; former president was ousted during Arab Spring uprising
4 years, 10 months ago

Hosni Mubarak dies at 91, says Egypt's state TV; former president was ousted during Arab Spring uprising

Firstpost  

Hosni Mubarak, born in May 1928, was vice president on 14 October 1981, when his mentor, president Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by Islamic extremists while reviewing a military parade. Cairo: Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who for nearly 30 years was the resolute face of stability in the Mideast before being forced by the military to resign after 18-day nationwide …

UN rights office urges Egypt to free blogger, lawyer, journalist
5 years, 2 months ago

UN rights office urges Egypt to free blogger, lawyer, journalist

Al Jazeera  

The UN urges Egypt to free Esraa Abdelfattah who was arrested by plain-clothes security officers in Cairo last week. The United Nations human rights office called on Egypt on Friday to free a prominent blogger, lawyer and journalist allegedly mistreated in custody who are among several thousand people detained since street protests began a month ago. “Unfortunately, such arrests are …

Family says Egyptian pro-democracy activist beaten in jail
5 years, 3 months ago

Family says Egyptian pro-democracy activist beaten in jail

Associated Press  

CAIRO — The family of a leading Egyptian pro-democracy activist, who was arrested amid a recent clampdown following anti-government protests, said on Thursday that he was beaten, threatened and stripped to his underwear while in custody. Nine Egyptian human rights groups released a statement denouncing the alleged ill-treatment of Abdel-Fattah and calling on the U.N. to examine the situation of …

Amid crackdown, leading Egyptian rights activist is arrested
5 years, 3 months ago

Amid crackdown, leading Egyptian rights activist is arrested

Associated Press  

CAIRO — A leading Egyptian pro-democracy activist was re-arrested Sunday while on probation, his family and a security official said, amid a sweeping security clampdown following small but rare anti-government protests earlier this month. Mohammed el-Baker, a rights lawyer who was attending the questioning of Abdel-Fattah by prosecutors, was also arrested, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights, a …

Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah rearrested amid crackdown
5 years, 3 months ago

Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah rearrested amid crackdown

Al Jazeera  

Prominent Egyptian dissident arrested even as he was serving his overnight probation, family and rights activists say. Prominent pro-democracy activist, Alaa Abdel Fattah, who served five years in prison in Egypt, has been rearrested, according to his family and rights groups. “I arrived at the police station and I found the place where he spends the probation empty, I asked …

Rights group calls for ‘immediate release’ of Egyptian protesters
5 years, 3 months ago

Rights group calls for ‘immediate release’ of Egyptian protesters

Al Jazeera  

At least 74 people have been arrested in rare protests calling for the removal of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. A leading rights group has called for the “immediate release” of those arrested in Egypt following rare protests on Friday demanding the resignation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. “President el-Sisi’s security agencies have time and again used brutal force to crush …

Egypt’s president pardons 560, including prominent columnist
5 years, 7 months ago

Egypt’s president pardons 560, including prominent columnist

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi pardoned 560 prisoners, including a prominent journalist and several women. The pardons, announced in the official gazette late Thursday, coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when authorities traditionally release detainees as a goodwill gesture. The journalist, Abdel Halim Qandil, was sentenced to three years in absentia in December 2017 for “insulting …

Egyptian pro-democracy activist free after 5 years in prison
5 years, 9 months ago

Egyptian pro-democracy activist free after 5 years in prison

Associated Press  

CAIRO — A leading Egyptian pro-democracy activist was freed from prison early Friday after serving a five-year sentence for organizing and taking part in protests, his family and lawyer said. To many, his imprisonment three years later — at a time when authorities imposed draconian laws banning public gatherings and unauthorized demonstrations — was another sign of Egypt’s return to …

Egyptian rights activist Abdel Fattah freed after 5 years in jail
5 years, 9 months ago

Egyptian rights activist Abdel Fattah freed after 5 years in jail

Al Jazeera  

As part of his parole, Alaa Abdel Fattah must sleep every night at a local police station for the next five years. His lawyer, Khaled Ali, confirmed the release by posting on Facebook: “Thanks God, Alaa Abdel-Fattah at home.” اللقاء الأول علاء وتوكة 💓 pic.twitter.com/mjkugrqrR3 — Mona Seif March 29, 2019 Translation: First meeting, Alaa and Toka Facebook pages set …

Egypt: Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah ‘to be released from prison’
5 years, 9 months ago

Egypt: Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah ‘to be released from prison’

Al Jazeera  

Alaa Abdel Fattah was sentenced to five years for allegedly organising a protest and assaulting a police officer. After five years in prison, Alaa Abdel Fattah, a high-profile Egyptian blogger and rights activist, is due to be released from prison on Wednesday, his family said. Abdel Fattah was arrested in November 2013 and eventually sentenced to five years in prison …

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