‘Medical intervention’ for hunger-striking Egyptian – sister worries US democracy will be saved for now – but remains fragile

In the case of imprisoned democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who protested his prison conditions by not eating and drinking in Egypt, prison authorities intervened “medically”, according to his family.

Judicial authorities had been notified of the move, the family said Thursday. His lawyer has been granted access and is on his way to jail, his sister Mona Saif tweeted.

It was unclear whether any form of forced feeding, such as intravenous, was involved. There was initially no confirmation from the official side. The family asked for clarification of the circumstances and for Abdel Fattah’s transfer to a hospital.

Abdel Fattah, one of the leading figures in the 2011 revolution, has been without food and water for months since Sunday morning – coinciding with the start of the world climate conference in the country. The body can only survive three to four days without water.

His mother, who drives daily to Wadi al-Natrun prison in the desert north of Cairo, since then she has been waiting in vain for a letter and thus a sign of life from her son. According to the family, she is now forbidden to wait in prison. She was not allowed to hand in a letter for her son.

According to the Al-Nadim Center, which helps victims of torture and violence, 40 inmates have died in Egyptian prisons this year.

Sister Sanaa Saif worries that her brother is being force-fed to keep him alive in prison. This could prevent a possible death of the prominent activist during the climate conference, where tens of thousands of delegates, observers and journalists are registered. The matter was also raised by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

COP27 president and foreign minister Samih Schukri had doubted on CNBC whether the 40-year-old inmate was even on a hunger strike. In addition, a hunger strike is a “personal decision”. Health care is available to him, as are all other prisoners.

At the two-week climate conference, representatives from nearly 200 countries negotiate how to step up the fight against global warming. The conference will last until the end of next week.

(yam/sda/dpa)