British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abdel-Fattah hardens his hunger strike days before the opening of COP27, the United Nations Climate Conference. The aim is to draw the attention of world leaders to the plight of political prisoners in Egypt.
Abdel-Fattah was one of the main activists of the 2011 revolution in the country, which led to the fall of former president Hosni Mubarak. Arrested several times since 2014, he was sentenced to five more years in prison at the end of last year for spreading fake news.
She went on a hunger strike in April to protest, and now threatens to stop consuming any kind of food and liquid from November 6, when COP27 begins in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
In protest, blogger may die before COP27 ends
Alaa Abdel-Fattah is a British-Egyptian writer, human rights activist and software developer. Known for collecting Arabic blogs, the activist has been involved in several citizen journalism initiatives and has published texts in a variety of media.
Abdel-Fattah’s announcement that he will raise the level of his protest on the eve of COP27 has alarmed human rights organizations.
Since April 2, she went on a partial hunger strike, eating only 100 calories a day. After more than 200 days of her freedom being ignored by the Egyptian authorities, the activist has decided to go on a full hunger strike from 1 November.
It also decided to launch a water strike from 6 November, coinciding with the opening of the UN Climate Conference, which will bring together leaders from around the world.
Human rights groups warn that if Abdel-Fattah is not released, he will die before the end of COP27.
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In the letter he sent to his family, the activist explains why he will intensify the hunger strike as follows:
“I have made the decision to escalate at a time when I see fit to fight for my freedom and the liberation of detainees from a conflict they are not participating in or are trying to get out of; for the victims of a regime that cannot cope with its crises outside of repression, that cannot reproduce itself except in confinement”.
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David R. Boyd, brought the organization’s attention to the blogger’s case.
“I agree with the global voices calling for the immediate release of the Egyptian activist Alaa Abd al-Fattah, who, before COP27, had spent years in prison just for expressing her opinion,” he said. “Freedom of expression is a prerequisite for climate justice.”
A coalition of less than 65 human rights organizations released a document urging Egyptian authorities to release activists and all other political prisoners.
The group, which recently acquired British citizenship, is urging British authorities to intervene in the case as well.
Organizations that have signed the document include Amnesty International, PEN International, the International Human Rights Service (ISHR) and EgyptWide for Human Rights.
Nobel laureates also unite for activist
The protest on the eve of COP27 mobilized Nobel Prize winners for Literature to pressure world leaders to demand that Egypt release political prisoners, including Alaa Abd al-Fattah.
The letter was sent to the UN, the Council of Europe and the Presidents of France, the United Kingdom, the United States and France, among others, by 15 Nobel Prize winners for Literature, including the American poet Louise Gluck and the English Kazuo Ishiguro. and Turkish Orhan Pamuk.
“We ask that you use the opportunity you have right now to help the most vulnerable, not only those who may be affected by rising seas, but also those who are trapped and forgotten – especially in the country that was privileged to host the event. . . ”
We ask you to use your speeches to name the detainees, claim their freedom and invite Egypt to be a true partner in a different future: a future that respects human life and dignity.”
“We want you to raise the voices of those who have been wrongfully imprisoned. Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s strong voice for democracy is close to fading.”
Prior to the summit, Egyptian security forces arrested about 70 people believed to be staging protests for COP27, Al Jazeera reported, citing local human rights groups.
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source: Noticias
