The family of Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah have said that he has broken his hunger strike, according to a letter posted on Twitter by his sister Sanaa Seif.
“I’ve broken my strike. I’ll explain everything on Thursday,” the letter dated Monday said, according to the tweet.
The note said: “How are you, Mama? Don’t worry, I’m OK. Your short letter got through, and I feel better now knowing you’re OK. The mp3 [music player] got through too. I’ll see you on the visit day and tell you everything then and we’ll get back to long letters after the visit.
“The important thing is I want to celebrate my birthday with you on Thursday, I haven’t celebrated for a long time, and want to celebrate with my cellmates, so bring a cake, normal provisions, I’ve broken my strike. I’ll explain everything on Thursday. Lots of love, I miss you and long for your company, Alaa.”
Abd el-Fattah, Egypt’s highest-profile political prisoner, had been on a partial hunger strike of 100 calories a day since April. In the buildup to the Cop27 climate conference he had reduced this to zero, and on the opening day of the conference stopped drinking water as well.
Last week it was reported that a “medical intervention” had taken place, and a letter to his family dated Saturday said he had started drinking water again.
Sanaa Seif said: “We’re counting down the days until Thursday now to find out what’s been going on inside prison with Alaa.”
Another sister, Mona Seif, said: “I feel cautiously relieved now knowing that at least he’s not on hunger strike but my heart won’t really be settled until Thursday when my mother and sister see him with their own eyes.”
More details soon …
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