Pressure increases against Egypt during COP27 for the release of activist Alaa Abdel Fatah

international pressure against Egypt increased this Tuesday to request the immediate release of the political prisoner Alaa Abdel Fatah, who stopped eating and drinking and is in danger of death, an issue that complicates the host country of the COP27.

Abdul-Fatahof dual Egyptian and British nationality, trained engineer and pro-democracy blogger, staunch enemy of the president Abdel Fatah al-Sisiwas sentenced at the end of 2021 to five years in prison for “dissemination of false information after spending most of the past decade behind bars.

On Sunday his family reported that the activist he stopped drinking water and says he has not received any proof of life.

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British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunakand the French president, Emmanuel Macron, They took advantage of COP27 to refer to the activist’s case in their interviews with President al Sisi.

The general secretary of the UN, Anthony Guterresdid the same in his meeting with the Egyptian authorities on the sidelines of the summit.

And this Tuesday the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz joined the calls asking for “a decision now, a release” of Abdel Fatah to avoid a consequence that is “deadly”.

The security service of UNofficial organizer of the climate summit, had to remove an Egyptian deputy from the premises on Tuesday who rebuked Sanaa Seif, Abdel Fatah’s sister, at a time when she was offering a press conference at the COP27 in Sharm el Sheikh, an AFP journalist confirmed.

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Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fatah appears at his home in Cairo. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (KHALED DESOUKI /)

“In grave danger”

Abdul-Fatah became known during the trade union movement kafaya of the 2000s, although it also participated in the 2011 revolution that led to the fall of Hosni Mubarak and in the marches against the Islamist Mohamed Morsi and the current president Al Sisi.

The High Commissioner of UN for Human Rights, Volker Turk, “Deeply regretted that the Egyptian authorities have not yet released the blogger and militant” whose “Life is in serious danger”indicated Ravina Shamdasani, The official’s spokesman during the regular UN briefing in Geneva.

“We are extremely concerned about your health”, Shamdasani said, especially since the activist’s family has not been able “come into contact with him in the last two days.”

“Abdel Fatah is in grave danger. His thirst strike endangers his life”, declared the head of human rights of the UNquoted in a statement.

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Türk asked the authorities “Immediately release all arbitrarily detained persons, including those in pretrial detention, as well as those unjustly convicted.”

The special rapporteur of the UN for freedom of association, Clement Voulejoined calls for Fatah’s immediate release.

“I remind the Egyptian authorities that civic engagement is key to advancing climate justice”, Voule said.

Given the silence at the highest level of the State of Egyptwas the head of Egyptian diplomacy, Sameh Choukrypresident of the COP27who responded by stating that Abdel Fatah “he benefits from all the necessary care in prison” adding that Egypt has not formally recognized the British nationality of the prisoner.

For your sister Sana Seifthis “care” could actually mean that your brother will be subjected to a “force feeding”

Source: Elcomercio