THREAD: (1) Female thugs attacked, beat & robbed the family of Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah as they sat outside of Tora Prison WHILE officers watched, did nothing & at one point--when they were seeking protection near the prison gates--told the thugs "take them outside."
(2) On the watch of authorities, the thugs hit Alaa's youngest sister Sanaa on the head & the back with a shoum (large stick). His other sister Mona was dragged on the ground. His mom Dr. Laila Soueif was hit and pushed. The thugs stole their bags, IDs, money, everything on them.
(3) See @Monasosh's timeline for the full account of these horrific accounts in Arabic, as well as photo documentation of the injuries Alaa's family sustained.
Here is just one painful example:
Here is just one painful example:
(4) What is the context here? On Saturday, Dr. Laila Soueif, Alaa Abdel Fattah's mom, went to Tora to deliver items & exchange letters w/ her son. She was promised she would get to do so by prison authorities. Instead, she was made to wait for hrs & told there would be no letter.
(5) Worried about her son as prison visits have been suspended without alternative since March & as unofficial reports of potential Covid-19 cases in various jails begin to be made, Dr. Laila refused to leave till she would be given a letter from Alaa.
(6) Authorities threatened Dr. Laila Soueif with arrest on multiple occasions & tried to intimate her, at one point picking her up in a police van, driving 50 m & dropping her off on the side of the road.
Through this all, Dr. Laila remained steadfast & calm. She did not leave.
Through this all, Dr. Laila remained steadfast & calm. She did not leave.
(7) At different points, Dr. Laila was joined by her daughters and Alaa's sisters Mona and Sanaa.
When they were all together last night, this horrific attack took place on the watch of Egyptian authorities and at one point, with their explicit urging to "take them outside."
When they were all together last night, this horrific attack took place on the watch of Egyptian authorities and at one point, with their explicit urging to "take them outside."
(8) Alaa's sister Mona says:
"We are at home and we are okay despite what happened. We will rest a bit and then we will see what steps and what measures we will take. And of course, we still want to check up on Alaa."
"We are at home and we are okay despite what happened. We will rest a bit and then we will see what steps and what measures we will take. And of course, we still want to check up on Alaa."
