Release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and the plight of British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad

Motion Text

That this House is relieved and delighted by the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, following six years of his unjust and arbitrary detention in Egypt; warmly welcomes Alaa being reunited with his family; emphatically commends the courage of Alaa's mother, Laila Soueif for her activism, including hunger striking, to help secure her son's release; further commends the work of civil society and non-governmental organisations which campaigned for Alaa's release; expresses grave concern regarding the plight of other British nationals who continue to be arbitrarily detained overseas including, among others, Jagtar Singh Johal in India, Ahmed al-Doush in Saudi Arabia, and Ryan Cornelius in the United Arab Emirates; calls on the Government to redouble diplomatic efforts to secure the release of all arbitrarily detained British nationals; and urges the Government to rapidly bring forward its promised legislation to introduce a legal right to consular assistance.