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Bill Nighy has told Prime Minister Keir Starmer "the deadline is fast approaching" as he became the latest celebrity to appeal for his intervention in the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, the British-Egyptian author and activist currently languishing in an Egytian prison.
Sporting longer hair than usual and a bushy beard Bill sent a video Christmas card to the PM via the @freedomforalaa Instagram page.
Speaking directly to camera he said: "Prime Minister, I'm making this video, because I like a lot of people, and I should imagine yourself included, are deeply concerned about the situation that Alaa Abd el-Fattah finds himself in. Currently in an Egyptian prison his mother, Laila Suief is entering the last, dangerous last stages of a hunger strike.
"I'm sure you're aware of all this, and I know you have many things to concern yourself with, obviously, but I would urge you to make this top five, given the fact that the deadline is fast approaching in terms of his mother's life as well as his own safety.
"He's imprisoned, as you will also know, for no good reason, having served the official sentence of five years is now an indefinite period where he languishes in jail, and he's a British citizen and he should be at home in Brighton his family for Christmas," he stressed.
He continued: "I know, you know, but I'm just here to tell you that I'm concerned about it, too. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.
"I was chuffed about the election," he said as he signed off from the clip.
The Prime Minister has previously confessed he likes to watch Bill's classic festive movie Love Actually over Christmas.
Bill's post is just the latest in a series of celebrity messages pleading for government intervention in the case.
Sucession star Brian Cox, A Handmaid's Tale Joseph Fiennes, Naomi Klein, Emily Watson, Harriet Walter and more have all made video messages asking for Keir Starmer to call the Egyptian authorities and get Alaa back to Brighton with his son.
The writer was sentenced to five years of imprisonment for spreading "false news undermining national security" in December 2021.
The Free Alaa campaign says he should have been released in September this year based on his time served behind bars since 2019 while waiting for his trial.
His 68-year-old mother, has been on hunger strike for the past 85 days and has vowed to continue her action in London until she hears news about her son being released or “she collapses and is hospitalised”.
English (US) ·