Daniel Gorman

After discussions with her doctors Laila has agreed to go on partial hunger strike, for the time being. She told them “there have been developments that have given me hope, and I want to switch to a partial hunger strike of 300 calories, consumed as liquids and not solid food”.   This will give some more time, but the doctors have explained that there will still be a limit to how much her body can hold out due to the continuation of her strike on what will still be a severely diminished calorie intake.   The recommendation has been that she takes this nutritional supplement which contains only 300 calories. They are keeping her under observation to see how her body responds to it. If it adapts well and she stabilises, she will be discharged and will continue to take one of these per day.   When Laila started her hunger strike, she didn’t have much hope that Alaa would be released in her lifetime. Now she is cautiously optimistic.   She is prepared, and has told us be prepared, that she could return to a full hunger strike at any moment should she feel that things are not moving forward for Alaa’s release so that he can be reunited with his son Khaled in Brighton. The biggest thanks to all those supporting and fighting to help free Alaa - it is this growing momentum that has made Laila believe that she may yet be able to live and see her son free.   #FreeAlaa

#Egypt🇪🇬:In a joint letter led by CPJ, 50 prominent human rights leaders, Nobel Prize laureates, writers, and public figures have called on the Egyptian President to grant a presidential pardon to Egyptian-British writer Alaa Abdelfattah.@FreedomForAlaa cpj.org/2025/03/cpj-le…

:The Prime Minister discussed the case of British national Alaa Abd El-Fattah with President Sisi. He pressed for @Alaa’s release, having met his mother Laila Soueif in recent weeks. The leaders agreed to speak again soon." gov.uk/government/new… #SaveLaila #FreeAlaa

As I write here in the @BylineTimes , Laila Soueif, Alaa Abdel Fattah mother, is in hospital on day 151 of her hunger strike. Time is running out. Tangible progress 2 get Alaa, a Brit citizen, released from prison in Egypt must happen urgently. ⬇️ bylinetimes.com/2025/02/27/why…

Strong statement from the UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) today in Geneva, urging the immediate release of my client Alaa Abd El-Fattah, while Alaa's mother remains hospitalized on day 151 of her hunger strike for her son. @FreedomForAlaa @Irenekhan - UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression @profbensaul - UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism @Ginitastar - UN Special Rapporteur on Peaceful Assembly and Association @SRjudgeslawyers - UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers #FreeAlaa - @RSF_inter, @englishpen, @fairsqprojects, @pen_int, @pressfreedom, @hrw, @UKintlaw, @RitaFrenchFCDO, @IBAHRI

Dr Laila Soueif, mother of @FreedomForAlaa was urgently hospitalised at St Thomas' hospital in London yday morning on day 149 of her hunger strike She is now at imminent risk of death I @hrw spent time with her in hospital yday & 2day Although weak she remains resolute 🧵

“Could I ask the Prime Minister to pick up the phone to President Sisi & seek the release of Alaa” “I can assure him I will do everything I can to ensure his release, and that includes phone calls as necessary. I gave my word to the family that's what I will do, and I will”

"I don't want to lose my mother." Saana Soueif, daughter of Laila Soueif and sister of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, tells #R4Today she doesn't want her mother to die, as Laila reaches 150 days on hunger strike in protest at Alaa's continued detention in Egypt.

English PEN will cease posting on Twitter/X from 27 February 2025, together with many other PEN centres. Find out why and where to follow us at the link below 👋 englishpen.org/posts/news/our…

We are very concerned that our former resident Nurcan Kaya is among those who have been detained and join @pen_int in condemning this latest crackdown.

We welcome this important statement from UK Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer on the unjust detention of British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah in Egypt. His continued imprisonment is a grave injustice – urgent action is needed to #FreeAlaa.

Important statement from the UK Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer as our client Alaa Abd el-Fattah remains detained in Egypt and his formidable mother Dr Soueif remains on hunger strike in England. Alaa’s case is before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Egypt continues to refuse consular access to @FCDOGovUK to a detained UK national. @FreedomForAlaa @englishpen @RSF_en @IBAHRI #freealaa

A year ago, UK indie bookshops held events to raise money for the PEN Emergency Fund to support writers at risk who are in and from Palestine. #Valentines4Palestine Thanks to your help, we raised over £15k – but we still need your support. Donate here ⤵️ gofundme.com/f/valentines4p…

We are outraged by the detention of booksellers Mahmoud Muna and Ahmad Muna by the Israeli authorities and demand their immediate release. We are in solidarity with our colleagues and condemn this ongoing repression.

Day 123 of Laila Soueif's hunger strike. She was outside Downing Street again this morning, still waiting for news from the Prime Minister on the release of her son. She was joined by @HelenaKennedyKC and @Can_Yeginsu. Laila will continue to return to Downing Street for as long as she can.

📝 [TMR WEEKLY] Latest in TMR Weekly from a book review from Alex Tan (@RAHMArainsONme) and an essay by Yasmin Fedda and Daniel Gorman (@dnlgorman: 🔗 Dive in now: bit.ly/3O4lB9S #themarkazreview #tmrweekly #latestarticles #books #bookreviews #poetry #essays

We need @Keir_Starmer to act now and do all he can to #FreeAlaa

PEN International welcomes the ceasefire but remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis and escalating West Bank violence. We urge immediate aid access, accountability, and a just resolution under international law. Read our statement: pen-international.org/news/optisrael…

Killings, violence and movement restrictions in the #WestBank continue to put people’s safety and wellbeing at risk, and access to health care is deteriorating. Read more in our latest update: ochaopt.org/content/humani…

🔴 LIVE DAY 475 #Israel #Palestine • The health ministry in Gaza said the death toll in Gaza had reached 47,283 with numbers rising despite a ceasefire as new bodies are found under the rubble • Israel carried out 520 attacks on hospitals in Gaza during the 15-month war • The UN’s aid chief Tom Fletcher told the Security Council that nearly 1 million children in Gaza require mental health assistance due to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts Follow our live coverage ⤵️ middleeasteye.net/live/live-wave…