Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist, remains unjustly imprisoned in Egypt despite completing his sentence. UNWGAD has been urged by ARTICLE 19 and 26 other organizations to take swift action regarding his case. His mother’s hunger strike and international recognition of his work highlight the urgent need for his release and greater accountability for human rights violations in Egypt.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) faces urgent calls from ARTICLE 19 and other human rights organizations regarding the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent British-Egyptian writer and activist still imprisoned in Egypt. Despite completing an unjust five-year sentence that should have released him on September 29, 2024, authorities have kept him detained, ignoring both his pre-trial detention time and international law. Human rights leaders advocate for immediate actions and opinions on his case, alongside ongoing recognition of his contributions to freedom of expression and resistance to oppression. On November 11 to 15, during a significant UNWGAD meeting in Geneva, 27 organizations joined forces to echo the urgent demand for action, reminding the world that Abd el-Fattah’s continued imprisonment is fundamentally arbitrary. His case highlights broader human rights violations in Egypt, where those who dare to speak out often face severe repercussions. Family members, including his mother who has been on hunger strike since his supposed release date, further emphasize the pressing need for international intervention in his plight.
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been a lighting rod in the fight for freedom of expression in Egypt, having spent most of the last decade in detention due to his outspoken activism and writing against governmental oppression. His most recent imprisonment in September 2019 culminated in a dubious five-year sentence, which he completed in 2024 but was met with continued detainment. This situation underscores significant issues within Egypt’s legal system and the international community’s role in advocating for human rights and political prisoners.
The continued detention of Alaa Abd el-Fattah serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights and freedom of expression in Egypt. Calls for his urgent release by prominent human rights organizations and the UN reflect the global condemnation of arbitrary detention practices. Abd el-Fattah’s resolve, even from behind bars, along with escalating advocacy on his behalf, galvanizes actions against oppression, invoking a fervent hope for a future free of fear for activists in Egypt and beyond.
Original Source: www.article19.org
