Jailed Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah began a hunger strike at the start of the month after his mother was hospitalised more than 150 days into her own hunger strike, his family said on Friday.

Abdel Fattah began refusing food at the Wadi al-Natroun prison "on Saturday, March 1 after hearing news that his mother had been hospitalised" in London, where she has been on hunger strike to put pressure on the British government to secure his release.

Laila Soueif, 68, eased her hunger strike on Wednesday and agreed to consume 300 calories a day in liquids,........

© Al Monitor