Egypt: Jailed Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah Ends Hunger Strike

Image copyright: The Associated Press

The Facts

  • The family of imprisoned Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah announced on Tuesday that he wrote a letter to them stating that he had broken his months-long hunger strike despite not being released.

  • His sister Mona Seif has shared this letter — the second received by his family in two days — in which el-Fattah affirmed that he would explain everything to his family in their monthly visit to the Wadi el-Natrun on Thursday.


The Spin

Narrative A

This is a political persecution of a man who exercised his basic right to free speech and advocated for social reform. As a result, his life is now in great danger. Egyptian authorities need to release him immediately and ensure he receives medical attention.

Narrative B

The UN and other countries must stop meddling in Egypt's internal affairs based on false information about this case. The findings against El-Fattah have been made in line with Egypt's laws — the due process must continue.


Articles on this story