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Condition of Hunger-Striking Pro-Democracy Egyptian Activist Unknown


FILE - Egypt's leading pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah speaks during a conference at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 22, 2014.
FILE - Egypt's leading pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah speaks during a conference at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 22, 2014.

The family of Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah says officials have informed them that Abdel-Fattah has undergone a medical intervention.

The family says that authorities have not told them any specifics about the nature of the intervention.

The medical development comes just days after Abdel-Fattah, who has been on a hunger strike for several months, decided to stop drinking water Sunday, coinciding with the opening of the COP27 talks in Egypt.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Egypt for the COP 27 session, have talked about Abdel-Fattah in their talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Prison authorities have denied a lawyer for Abdel-Fattah access to his client.

The Associated Press reports Amnesty International’s Secretary-General Agnès Callamard has called for independent medical care for Abdel-Fattah.

“Why? Because the prison system in Egypt is abysmal in its treatment, medical treatment of prisoners,” she said.

Abdel-Fattah's mother has made daily trips this week to the prison where her son is being held, but she has not received any information about his condition.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press.

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