Campaign
Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2024
A focus on Egypt
Since 1981, November 15th has marked the Day of the Imprisoned Writer – observed by PEN International and all PEN centers around the world– to acknowledge the courageous writers who have been imprisoned solely for their artistic expression. In line with ARC's ongoing effort to call for the release of Egyptian writer, blogger, and software engineer Alaa Abd El-Fattah, we are joining PEN International's efforts to highlight his unjust imprisonment along with the following three writers: Jimmy Lai (Hong Kong), Kaciaryna Andrejeva (Belarus), José Rubén Zamora Marroquín (Guatemala).
Abd El-Fattah, an award-winning British-Egyptian writer, software developer, prominent activist, and Honorary Member of English PEN, has endured years of arbitrary imprisonment on charges directly linked to his outspoken advocacy for human rights and free expression in Egypt. Known internationally for his writings and activism, El-Fattah has become an emblematic figure representing the struggle for human rights in the region, for which Egyptian authorities have repeatedly targeted him. He spent more than two-thirds of the last decade in arbitrary imprisonment solely for exercising his legitimate right to freedom of expression. Despite fully serving his latest unjust sentence by September 29, 2024, Egyptian authorities continue to arbitrarily imprison Abd El-Fattah, refusing to recognise his two-year pre-trial detention as a part of his sentence.
His book, You Have Not Yet Been Defeated, which compiles some of his profoundly influential writings, has received widespread acclaim. He was named the 2024 Writer of Courage by PEN Pinter Prize 2024 winner, Arundhati Roy. He also won PEN Canada’s One Humanity Award in 2023, and the 2022 Electronic Frontier Foundation Award for Democratic Reform Advocacy.
Since his imprisonment in September 2019, Abd El-Fattah has faced severe treatment in detention, including torture, denial of medical care, and restricted communication with his family. He has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and repeatedly deprived of essential necessities, including a mattress, clean clothing, books, and newspapers, which are routinely withheld without justification. His requests for medical devices, which are necessary to manage his health, including glucose monitors, have been denied, increasing the risk of hill health. To date, the Egyptian authorities have failed to adequately investigate Abd El-Fattah’s allegations of torture and ill-treatment despite a series of complaints filed by him and his family.
Despite sustained calls from his family and organisations worldwide, Egyptian authorities continue to obstruct his access to UK consular support, a right he is entitled to as a British citizen, raising further concerns over his wellbeing, and ignoring demands for his release. The UK's successive governments have also failed to secure his right to consular visits and his ultimate release despite enjoying strong economic and diplomatic ties with the Egyptian government.
Abd El-Fattah’s case illustrates the Egyptian government’s broader crackdown on writers, human rights and political activists, and journalists, who are frequently detained under broad charges such as “spreading false news” and “threatening national security,” and face unfair trials.
PEN International and ARC remain gravely concerned over Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s health and renews its calls on the Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him. The organisations also call on the UK Government to uphold its pledge and take all necessary actions to end Abd El-Fattah’s ordeal and ensure his freedom.
Take Action:
Please join us in calling on the Egyptian government to release Alaa. Write to:
President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Address for letters: Al Ittihadiya Palace, Cairo, Egypt.
Send an Email to: Presidency@op.gov.eg
Please send electronic copies to:
- The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on: Contact.us@mfa.gov.eg
- The Egyptian Embassy in your own country
Embassy addresses may be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/egypt
- The UK Embassy in your own country. Embassy addresses may be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies
Please reach out to your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic representatives in Egypt and the UK, calling on them to raise the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah with the Egyptian and UK authorities at bilateral fora.
If you are a UK citizen/resident, please write to your MP asking them to demand the UK government to secure consular access and Abd El-Fattah’s immediate and unconditional release.
Please also write to UK Foreign Secretary, Mr David Lammy, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Website: https://members.parliament.uk/member/206/contactEmail: fcocorrespondence@fcdo.gov.uk
If you are Mr David Lammy’s constituent, please write to him on:
Email: david.lammy.mp@parliament.uk
Please Copy: mail@davidlammy.co.uk
You can find helpful information here: https://www.davidlammy.co.uk/contact/