Sisi reportedly refusing Starmer's calls over hunger-striking Alaa Abdel-Fattah's mother

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is reportedly refusing to take calls from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is expected to raise concerns over Laila Soueif, the mother of jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah.

Soueif, 69, has been on hunger strike for over 200 days and is now being treated at London’s St Thomas' Hospital. She was recently photographed looking severely emaciated, with doctors warning she is at risk of “sudden death” due to dangerously low blood sugar.

Her son, a prominent dissident and software developer, has been imprisoned in Egypt for much of the past decade. In 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison for a social media post and accused of spreading false news about a fellow inmate’s death. Despite his sentence being due to end in September, he remains behind bars. Soueif has repeatedly said she is willing to die to bring attention to his continued detention.

According to The Guardian, Sisi has ignored at least two calls from Starmer since Soueif was hospitalised earlier this month. The last call attempt reportedly came on 22 May, during which Starmer urged him to "end the anguish of the family".

A diplomatic source told the paper that Sisi has insisted the case be treated as an internal Egyptian matter and has refused to acknowledge Abd el-Fattah's dual citizenship.

The UK's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has publicly called for action to reflect Britain's rejection of the treatment of Abd el-Fattah and his mother, but questions remain over how much leverage London really has.

Amnesty International has also pressed Lammy to use international forums, such as the UN Human Rights Council, to call for Abd el-Fattah's release.

Soueif's daughter, Sanaa Seif, told reporters on Tuesday: "She is fighting, and we hope the Foreign Office is using the time."

A spokesperson for Starmer added: "We are deeply concerned by Laila’s hospitalisation and remain in regular contact with her family regarding her welfare."

Abd el-Fattah's family has long criticised the UK government for what they say is a failure to act decisively to protect one of its citizens from Egyptian state repression.

The New Arab reached out to the Egyptian consulate in London but did not receive a response by the time of publication.