Hunger striker in jail gives ‘proof of life’

CAIRO: The sister of Egyptian-british activist Alaa Abd el-fattah said yesterday the family had received a letter from prison that served as “proof of life” from the hunger striker.

Abd el-fattah, who has been on hunger strike against his detention and prison conditions for more than 220 days, had said he was escalating his protest by ceasing to drink water on November 6. Since then his family and his lawyer had made repeated trips to the prison but had received no news on his condition. “Alaa is alive, he says he’s drinking water again as of November 12,” his sister, Sanaa Seif, said.