The article recounts the experiences of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent Egyptian political prisoner known for his activism. While imprisoned in Cairo’s Tora prison, he engaged in a hunger strike with fellow activists to demand rights as prisoners. This form of protest emphasizes the concept that when power is taken away, control over one's own body remains. The hunger strike was successful as media attention and public concern threatened backlash against the prison authorities. Key strategies highlighted include ensuring the public knows about the strike and grounding demands in established rights.
Hunger strikes are the ultimate tool of the powerless. When all other forms of agency are stripped away, all that remains is to exercise control over the one thing left: your own body.
Alaa and a group of other activists launched their own hunger strike to force the prison to respect our rights. They were only allowed two hours of exercise a day, and one family visit every two weeks.
After a week of rancour, Alaa and his colleagues won. The prison authorities backed down, fearing a ferocious public backlash should any of the prisoners die.
There is no point doing it if nobody knows, and limit your demands to what is within your rights.
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