Abu Dhabi and Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
CNN
—
For some political detainees in Egypt, a 2nd nationality could be a topic of existence or demise, particularly when power from Western governments turns into the closing hope for conceivable freedom.
In Egypt, the plight of a distinguished British-Egyptian activist recently on starvation strike in jail is the controversy of the COP27 local weather summit within the Red Sea lodge of Sharm el-Sheikh. The circle of relatives of Alaa Abd El-Fattah has been running tirelessly to safe his unlock – and is hoping that his not too long ago granted British passport will give him rights they are saying are denied to him as an Egyptian nationwide.
While government declare that foreigners and nationals are handled similarly prior to the regulation, critics say {that a} overseas – and in particular Western – nationality generally gives the holder more potent promises of rights and freedoms.
During a press convention held by means of the sister of Abd El-Fattah on Tuesday, two Egyptian males figuring out themselves as a legal professional and a parliamentarian raised considerations about what they are saying are “double standards” exercised by means of his circle of relatives, who hope that power from the British authorities would possibly safe the activist’s unlock.
“I am greatly concerned that whenever someone holds a foreign nationality, we ask for their release,” mentioned the person who recognized himself as a legal professional, in Arabic. “This is a double standard.”
In reaction, Abd El-Fattah’s sister Sanaa Seif mentioned that “the Egyptian regime is very aware that when it comes to dual nationalities, the standards change.”
“Unfortunately, all Egyptians know that Egyptian citizenship makes you worth less,” mentioned Seif. “And there’s a method out for Alaa that doesn’t require clemency.
“Deport him to his other country of residence and let him face a fair trial over there,” she mentioned.
Following Seif’s press convention on Wednesday, Egyptian pro-government legal professional Tarek Mahmoud mentioned that he had filed a case towards Seif with the general public prosecutors, petitioning that she be charged with “conspiring with foreign organizations that are hostile to the Egyptian government,” resorting to “foreign forces” and “inciting against the Egyptian state,” in addition to “spreading false news.”
Imprisoned for a lot of the previous decade and sentenced to an extra 5 years in 2021, Abd El-Fattah used to be granted British citizenship previous this 12 months, via his British-born mom, in what his circle of relatives mentioned used to be a part of the marketing campaign to safe his unlock and make clear the fight of his fellow inmates.
Abd El-Fattah used to be discovered in charge of spreading false data for sharing a Facebook put up, a price steadily used towards activists and the ones of suspected of dissent. He stood trial in a state safety court docket the place his legal professionals didn’t have get entry to to the case information.
Abd El-Fattah has been on a starvation strike for greater than 200 days and on Sunday stopped ingesting water.
He began the starvation strike to call for consular get entry to as a British nationwide and in protest over jail prerequisites.
On Thursday, every other of Abd El-Fattah’s sisters, Mona Seif, said that the circle of relatives were “informed by the prison officers that medical intervention was taken with Alaa, with the knowledge of judicial entities.” Mona Seif additionally demanded that his mom or a consultant from the British embassy be allowed to look the activist to “understand his real health status.”
Other political prisoners in Egypt had been in a position to safe their unlock the usage of their twin nationalities, following strenuous campaigns by means of their supporters and robust world power. Such efforts ceaselessly come in the end prison choices had been exhausted within the home courts.
Their good fortune ceaselessly will depend on the place the second one nationality is held, says Hossam Bahgat, a distinguished Egyptian human rights recommend and head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).
“If it is a European passport, it entitles an Egyptian citizen to better protection, more rights, and at least the possibility of deportation, none of which are rights guaranteed to an ordinary Egyptian,” Bahgat informed CNN.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday mentioned that he had raised the case of Abd El-Fattah whilst attending COP27. “We will continue to press the Egyptian government to resolve the situation,” Sunak informed the United Kingdom parliament.
In January, Egyptian-Palestinian activist Ramy Shaath used to be freed following greater than 900 days in detention after he renounced his Egyptian nationality. His French spouse, Celine Lebrun, had lobbied the French authorities for his unlock.
Upon arriving in Paris, Shaath’s circle of relatives launched a commentary pronouncing that “no one should have to choose between their freedom and their citizenship.”
And in 2015, Egyptian-Canadian Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy, who used to be sentenced to a few years in jail for reporting with out a press license and “broadcasting material harmful to Egypt,” used to be given a presidential pardon simplest months after the Canadian authorities issued him a passport. Fahmy regained his Egyptian nationality in 2016, in line with Egyptian state media, which reported that he “was under exceptional pressure when he renounced his native nationality.”
The strategy to lodge to twin nationality in an effort to be launched from detention is going way back to Egypt’s 2014 regulation on overseas nationals. Pushed for by means of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Law 140 stipulates that the president is authorized to “repatriate convicted foreigners to their home countries” to both serve their time or stand trial via their very own court docket programs.
The circle of relatives of Abd El-Fattah, determined to look him freed, has expressed openness to this regulation being utilized in his case.
“Legal routes were exhausted for nine years,” Sanaa Seif informed journalists on Tuesday. “There was a law issued, and it was issued specifically for these cases.”
But there is also vital hurdles to transparent. Speaking to CNN’s Becky Anderson on Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry mentioned that Abd El-Fattah “has not applied to be recognized by the Egyptian government as being a British citizen.”
“His citizenship was conferred while he was serving his sentence and there is a procedure within our rules and regulations and laws for any Egyptian who acquires dual nationality to fulfill,” Shoukry informed CNN.
Not going via the correct prison channels dangers opening “a loophole for anyone to commit a crime” after which declare twin nationality, mentioned Shoukry.
Asked whether or not Abd El-Fattah may die whilst the British Prime Minister used to be in Egypt, and whether or not the activist can be given consular get entry to, Shoukry mentioned there have been “misconceptions” in relation to his well being standing and insisted that the penal code in Egypt ensured right kind healthcare for all inmates.
Bahgat, the human rights recommend, informed CNN that “bureaucratic obstacles” had held up efforts by means of Abd El-Fattah’s circle of relatives to realize authorization from the Egyptian internal ministry for his 2nd nationality.
“This is a process that is granted very frequently, except in Alaa’s case,” Bahgat mentioned, which seems to have hit a extra delicate notice with Egyptian government.
The simplest rationalization his supporters have, Bahgat mentioned, is that Abd El-Fattah used to be “one of the most prominent and influential voices” of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.
“The generation of the Arab Spring has been stuck paying the heavy price of this uprising for nine years now,” Sanaa Seif informed journalists on Tuesday.
“It is a generation that has languished in prisons and in morgues,” she mentioned. “Enough.”
