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November 7, 2022

Egyptian Hunger Striker Alaa Abd El-Fattah gives up water as COP27 Opens
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Ahead of COP27, Egyptian authorities arrested hundreds of activists in a
broad crackdown on dissent. They also published guidelines limiting
protests during COP27 to designated zones and will require 36 hours
advance notice. On Sunday, Sanaa Seif arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh to
demand Egyptian authorities release her brother Alaa Abd El-Fattah, the
Egyptian British political prisoner. Abd El-Fattah intensified his
six-month hunger strike by giving up water altogether as the climate
conference opened. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed
support for Alaa Abd El-Fattah and vowed to raise the issue while he is
at COP27. In a letter, Sunak said securing his release was "a priority
for the British government both as a human rights defender and as a
British national."


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