Meet Laila Soueif, the Egyptian-British mother starving herself to free her son: Video
Egyptian-British mother Laila Soueif, 68, has been on a hunger strike since September 2024 to demand the release of her son, Alaa Abdel Fattah.
She has not eaten solid food in 150 days. Living in London, she has only been drinking tea, coffee, and rehydration fluids. Doctors now say she could die at any moment.
Her son, Alaa, is one of Egypt’s most famous activists. He was arrested in 2019 after sharing a text about torture in Egyptian prisons.
In 2021, he was sentenced to five years in jail for "spreading false information."
For years, Soueif has fought against injustice in Egypt. She has marched in protests, written about human rights, and been arrested multiple times.
Now, she says her son’s freedom is more important than her own life.
"I will continue my hunger strike, either until Alaa is released, or until I completely collapse, or even die," she told AFP in February.
Soueif is not just any activist—she comes from a family known for fighting back. Her late husband, Ahmed Seif al-Islam, was a human rights lawyer who spent years in prison. Their children followed the same path.
Alaa, 43, has spent much of his life behind bars. He was a key figure in the 2011 revolution that ended Hosni Mubarak’s rule.
His sister, Mona Seif, started a campaign against military trials for civilians. His youngest sister, Sanaa Seif, is a filmmaker and activist who has been jailed multiple times.
When their father died in 2014, Alaa and Sanaa were both in prison.
"Laila has always had a very strong conscience, defending human rights for all and passing that on to her children. It takes extraordinary courage," activist Mona Mina said.
Since starting her hunger strike, Soueif has met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, hoping he will pressure Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Foreign Minister David Lammy even travelled to Cairo to ask for Alaa’s release, but there has been no breakthrough.
Born in London in 1956, Soueif grew up in a family that valued knowledge and debate.
Her father was a psychology professor, and her mother was an expert in English literature. As a student in the 1970s, she protested against Egypt’s government and later helped create movements demanding academic freedom and democracy.
When asked if Alaa got his rebellious spirit from her, she did not hesitate. "Oh yes! My whole family has enough fighting spirit to last any length of time."
