Alaa Abd El-Fattah

Thank you for contacting me about Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British national imprisoned in Egypt. I share your concerns.

Through their global network, consular staff at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) endeavour to give appropriate and tailored support to British nationals overseas, and their families in the UK, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Since his sentencing in December 2021, FCDO officials have consistently called on the Egyptian Government to urgently grant consular access to Mr Abd El-Fattah. In the meantime, the FCDO has confirmed that they are in regular contact with his family to provide them with support.

Ministers also continue to raise his case with the highest levels of the Egyptian Government and, as the former Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss said in the House on 21 June, are working to secure his release. To this end, the Prime Minister sent a letter to Abd El-Fattah's family affirming that the activist's case is "a priority for the British government, both as a human rights defender and as a British national".

In the meantime, I have every confidence that officials from the British Embassy in Cairo will continue to do all they can to support Mr Abd El-Fattah.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.