The Civil Democratic Movement in Egypt has organised a rare event to show solidarity with prisoners of conscience, marking the first such gathering in years where politicians successfully held a press conference attended by the families of detained activists.
Among the speakers was academic Laila Sueif, the mother of prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been on hunger strike for over 135 days demanding his release.
Sueif, responding to appeals for her to end her strike, insisted she could not back down, saying, “I am saving my children’s lives.”
Sueif reflected on her own life, describing it as fulfilling in academic and professional spheres, as well as in her marriage to the late human rights activist Ahmed Seif Al-Islam Abdel Fattah.
However, she lamented that her children—Alaa, Mona, and Sanaa—had seen their lives put on hold for the past decade, with Alaa repeatedly imprisoned.
Rafida Hamdi, the wife of political activist Mohamed Adel, spoke about the immense struggles faced by families of detainees, particularly women—whether as wives, mothers, or sisters—who shoulder unbearable burdens.
She recounted tragic cases of children and families affected by imprisonment, drawing from her experiences visiting Adel in various prisons over the past 11 years.
Hamdi expressed frustration over her husband’s continued incarceration, particularly his time in the notorious maximum-security Gamasa Prison, where he endured severe mistreatment before being recently transferred.
She stressed that there should be no debate about his guilt, as he has already completed his sentence. Despite her relentless efforts to secure a presidential pardon, she has yet to receive a response and continues to plead for his release.
Nada Moghit, the wife of cartoonist Ashraf Omar, also addressed the audience, asserting that the issue extends beyond politics: “This is more than just a political dispute—it has become a daily violation against the families of political prisoners, who are now forbidden from even voicing their pain.”
The mother of Sami El-Gendy, a political prisoner held in pretrial detention since October 2023 following demonstrations in support of Palestine, condemned the Egyptian authorities for disregarding legal standards.
She further explained that she had exhausted all legal avenues to seek her son’s release, filing a complaint with the Public Prosecutor, who referred the case to the Supreme State Security Prosecution for review. However, her efforts have so far been met with silence.
The event shows the growing frustration among families of political prisoners, who continue to call for justice and an end to their prolonged suffering.
