The husband of a British woman detained in Egypt for two months has appealed for government intervention to secure her release.
Eman el-Shazly, from Handsworth Wood in Birmingham, was reportedly arrested at her mother’s home in Cairo. Her family believes her detention is connected to online activism by her sister, who criticises the Egyptian government from the United Kingdom.
Her husband, Zeesharn Moustapha, has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to contact Egyptian authorities, saying the family feels helpless and sees intervention as its best hope of securing her release.
Moustapha said he had not had any contact with his wife since she was detained. He added that her mother had informed him that her health was deteriorating because of inadequate food and medical care.
He also raised concerns about the conditions in which she was being held, claiming that about 30 people shared a cell with just one toilet and one shower.
The 46-year-old had travelled to Egypt to care for her elderly, sick mother, who had reportedly been making lengthy journeys to deliver food to el-Shazly’s two brothers, who are also in detention.
Moustapha said the separation had been distressing for their four children, who were struggling with their mother’s absence. He also criticised the UK government’s response, saying the family had received insufficient communication and updates.
He maintained that his wife had committed no offence and described her detention as collective punishment linked to her sister’s online activities. He added that she had held a British passport for 20 years.
El-Shazly’s sister told the BBC that she was sorry her family had been affected by the situation but would continue posting videos criticising Egypt’s leadership. She alleged that detaining family members was a tactic to silence government critics.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was supporting the family and remained in contact with Egyptian authorities.
The Egyptian consulate in London was approached for comment, but no response was included in the report.
