Living Archive · Write-a-letter · End reprisals against family · defender in exile

Speak up for Alaa Abdel Fattah.

This letter is tailored to Alaa Abdel Fattah's case archetype — end reprisals against family · defender in exile. The opening, framing, and demands change with the situation (a defender in exile, a killed defender, a defender on a watchlist, and a defender in pretrial detention require different asks). Edit as needed, then send from your personal address.

Editable draft · letter to authorities

Your Excellency,

I am writing to express grave concern about the ongoing transnational repression targeting human rights defender Alaa Abdel Fattah, Software developer, blogger, and digital rights advocate; prominent member of the "No to Military Trials for Civilians" movement.. The reach of state intimidation across borders — including against family members in Egypt — must end.

Alaa Abdel Fattah, a blogger and digital rights defender, was arrested in 2019 while complying with probation conditions. He has been held in solitary confinement in Tora High Security prison 2 for nearly two years, facing dire conditions and denial of family letters.

I respectfully urge your authorities to:
  1. Immediately end all transnational targeting of Alaa Abdel Fattah, including surveillance, defamation campaigns, Interpol misuse, and consular harassment;
  2. Withdraw any in-absentia convictions or politically motivated charges tied to peaceful human rights work;
  3. Comply with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and OHCHR guidance on transnational repression.
  4. Immediately lift the travel ban imposed on Alaa Abdel Fattah and on any family members affected by the same order;
  5. Restore valid travel documents and remove any border-watch flags placed in connection with peaceful human rights work;
  6. Comply with the ICCPR Article 12 guarantee of freedom of movement.
  7. Immediately unfreeze the personal and organisational accounts of Alaa Abdel Fattah;
  8. Withdraw the underlying terrorism-finance or money-laundering proceedings used as pretext;
  9. Restore access to property, salary, and professional licences.

I will continue to monitor this case until Alaa Abdel Fattah's family and contacts in Egypt can live free from state reprisal.

Respectfully,

[Your name]
[Your city, country]
6 June 2026

Suggested recipients

Egyptian Embassy (London) United Kingdom eg.emb.london@mfa.gov.eg
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders United Nations · OHCHR defenders@ohchr.org
UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention United Nations · OHCHR wgad@ohchr.org
EU EEAS Human Rights Division European Union eeas-human-rights@eeas.europa.eu

What to do next

1. Edit the letter to add your specific concerns.
2. Copy, then email it directly from your personal address.
3. CC editorial@humena.org so we can log advocacy volume.

A personal email from a constituent often matters more than a coalition statement.