Use of COP27 to make direct representations to the Egyptian Government for Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s immediate release

Early day motion 555, tabled 8 November 2022 by Olivia Blake (Labour). Signed by 28 members.

This house condemns Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s ongoing imprisonment in Egypt; expresses serious concern at his treatment by Egyptian authorities and for his health and wellbeing; notes that he has been on hunger strike for over six months and has now begun a water strike; further notes that his imprisonment is part of a wider pattern of political arrests and disappearances and that he is one of as many as 60,000 political prisoners held in Egypt; also notes that Abd el-Fattah is a British citizen and therefore entitled to consular support from the British embassy; also notes with concern that the UK Government has yet to call publicly for his unconditional release; also notes that the total value of UK arms exports licensed to Egypt in the last three years was £24m and that this would provide significant leverage in talks to secure Abd el-Fattah’s release; and urges the Government to use COP27 to make direct representations to the Egyptian Government for Abd el-Fattah’s immediate release and to provide him with independent medical assistance.

Signatures by party: Labour 16, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, Independent 2, DUP 1, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.