Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to notify the Egyptian authorities of the British citizenship of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.

Since his sentencing in December 2021, FCDO officials have consistently called on the Egyptian Government to grant consular access to Alaa Abd El-Fattah after his obtaining British citizenship. The first request was submitted to the Egyptian authorities on 20 December 2021. There have been a number of follow-up requests submitted at the highest levels. The Foreign Secretary raised his case with Foreign Minister Shoukry on 21 September and the previous Prime Minister raised the case with President Sisi during a call on 25 August. We continue to support the family of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.