Take Action Now: A Global Urgent Call for Feminist Solidarity to Save the Life of Laila Soueif

Take Action Now: A Global Urgent Call for Feminist Solidarity to Save the Life of Laila Soueif

We, the feminists and feminist organizations signing this statement, call for global feminists’ solidarity with the Egyptian feminist activist and human rights defender, Professor Laila Soueif, in her desperate battle to enforce Egyptian law and release her son, prisoner of consciousness, Alaa Abdel Fattah.

Laila Soueif is a prominent activist in the Egyptian democratic and human rights movement with a long record of defending political and civil liberties, the independence of universities, freedom of scientific research, and the right to freedom of opinion and expression for everyone regardless of political beliefs.

Soueif demands that both the Egyptian and British governments, as she and her children have dual nationality, undertake the necessary measures to release her son. Alaa Abdel Fattah has already finished his five-year sentence and should have been released on the 29th of September 2024, as mandated by Article 480 of the Egyptian Criminal Procedural Law. That is the day Soueif began her full hunger strike.

Laila Soueif’s resort to using her own body and life at the age of 68 in her struggle for freedom and the rule of law reminds us of historical feminist struggles, for instance, the Mothers of May movement in Argentina to stop enforced disappearances for the freedom of their children and families. But now, after her hunger strike has exceeded 150 days, she is in a critical condition that could lead to her death at any moment, according to the St. Thomas Hospital report.

Our demand as feminists to save Laila Soueif and release her son, prisoner of conscience Alaa Abdel Fattah, is part of the demand to enforce the rule of law and the right of all prisoners of conscience in Egypt to be released, particularly those who have completed their sentences.

We call upon you to join our campaign to save Laila Soueif by writing to both the Egyptian and British governments, supporting her demands, and letting her know of your support.

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS or use this statement.

Media Office of the Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Email: media.office8@op.gov.eg

Egyptian Cabinet 

Email: questions@cabinet.gov.eg

UK Parliament

Email: hcenquiries@parliament.uk

Uk Government

Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

Take Action Now and Sign HERE

Signatures:

• New Woman Foundation
• Rouayda Al-Arabi – President of the “She Achieves” organization
• Mohamed Gamal Turki – Lawyer / Training Consultant
• Nagla Mohamed Abdeljawad Mohamed – Writer and History Researcher
• Omayma Emad Eldin – Researcher
• Janna Adel – Writer and Translator
• Shaimaa Tantawi – Researcher and Feminist Writer
• Fatma Al-Sawy – Human Rights Activist
• Malak Al-Kashef – Writer and Researcher
• Nouran Al-Marsafi – Program Manager and Environmental Activist
• Salma Al-Tobgi – Visual Designer
• Karima Al-Hefnawi – Pharmacist
• Nihad Zaki – Journalist
• Alfat Allam – Psychotherapy and Addiction Consultant
• Mona Abdelradi – Journalist
• Dalia Obeid – Doctor of English Literature
• Hadeer Mahmoud Saqr – Chemist
• Rahma Sami – Journalist
• Farida Omar – Development Programs Manager
• Siham Othman – Teacher
• Salma Jrad – NGO Activist
• Ziad Abdel Samad – Engineer
• Thuraya Abdeljawad – University Professor
• Siham Najm – Development Expert
• Asmaa Al-Maliki – Lawyer
• Asmaa Nour – Director
• Ilham Aidarous – Translator
• Ghada Salah Shahbandar – Translator and Writer
• Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid – University Professor
• Haneen Shaheen – Program Manager
• Maryam Kulayb – Lawyer
• Abdelrazek Mustafa Abdelrazek – Lawyer
• Maryam Al-Ruwaie (Bahrain) – Director of Tafawuq Consulting Center for Development
• Ahmed Talal Qubaisi – Social Activist in Human Rights
• Mona Alaa Qasem – Deputy Planning Unit, Arab Women Organization
• Areen Hawari – Director of Mada Al-Karmel Research Center – Haifa
• Moshira Saleh – Development Specialist
• Nadia Henry – Former Member of Parliament
• Elhami Al-Merghani – Economic Researcher
• Ahdaf Soueif – Writer
• Rita Chemaly – University Professor
• The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL) – NGO, Lebanon
• Maha Fathi Al-Saeed – University Professor
• Hilal Abdelhamid – Founding Member of the Egyptian Democratic Front Party
• Abdel Moneim Mohamed – Interior Designer
• Samira Al-Jazzar – Member of the Egyptian Parliament
• Jihan Abu Zeid – Researcher
• Yusra Al-Jundi – Human Rights Advocate
• Nadia Abdelwahab El-Fify – Medical Doctor
• Mirhan Fouad – Feminist Researcher
• Mohamed Aboud – Professor
• Gihan Youssef Amin – Medical Doctor
• Hanan Sadiq – Engineer
• Anas El Hasnaoui – Consultant
• Aida Seif El-Dawla – Retired University Professor
• Esraa Mohamed Al-Rahmani – Assistant Lecturer
• Irene Akram Ibrahim – Founder and Executive Director of Medium Initiative
• Yousry Mostafa – Writer
• Noha Abeer – Visual Artist
• Asmaa Sobhy – Project Coordinator
• Samar Al-Husseini – Researcher and Human Rights Advocate
• Osama Al-Eisa – Writer
• Moataz El Fegiery – University Professor, Vice President of Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
• Inas Al-Shafai – Researcher
• Nermin Khafaji – Researcher
• Dina Craissati – Researcher
• Nadia Rifaat – Researcher
• Hivi Aslan – Feminist Activist
• Dr. Mohieddine Laghha – Academic and Human Rights Activist
• Mostafa Adam Ahmed – Executive Director
• Hayat Elyamani – Journalist
• Mahmoud Abdelzaher – Researcher and Lawyer
• Magda Mohamed Adly – Doctor
• Wisam Al-Arabi – Researcher
• Mahienour Al-Masry – Lawyer
• Amal Abdelhamid – Lawyer
• Kamal Lahbib – Retired, Human Rights Defender
• Huda Faiq – Journalist
• Amal Sabri – Environment & Development Consultant and Researcher (Retired)
• Abdelrahim Siwi – Retired Professor
• Valli Yaanni – Mother
• Hania Moheeb – Journalist
• Noura Tamim – Content Creator
• Al-Fatimi Al-Marouni – Moroccan Unionist
• Hayat Al-Sheimi – Journalist and Writer
• Mesbahy Said – Retired
• Nadia Mounier – Visual Artist
• Nada Tamim – Unemployed
• Salwa Mohamed Ali Hedaya – Retired Accountant
• Amal Sayed Ali – Independent Consultant in Local Development
• Adeeb Nehme – Researcher
• Rola Roukbi – Director of “Women Now for Development,” Lebanon
• Shaimaa Hamdi – Journalist and Researcher
• Amira Ragab – Translator
• Hana Tawfiq – Student
• Hadeer Hassan – Writer
• Dr. Amani Al-Taweel – Researcher
• Jumana Marai – Director of Beirut Office at the Arab Institute for Human Rights
• Mena Allah – Medical Insurance Specialist
• Donia Kamal – TV Producer & Writer
• Saida Idrissi – Civil Society Activist
• Suhair Sabri – Translator and Writer
• Raja Jabri – Consultant
• Rahma Refaat – Lawyer
• Taken Awad – Researcher and Writer
• Rawan Abbas – Feminist Researcher
• Lujain Mohamed Khairy (Lujain Khairy) – Accountability and Learning Officer
• Samar Suleiman – Case Manager for Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls
• Manar Abdel Aziz – Feminist Researcher
• Mounia Ben Jemaa – University Professor
• Asmaa Khalifa – Researcher and Activist
• Amal Abdelhady – Retired Doctor
• Ola Essam – Librarian