Greta Thunberg visits Westminster sit-in protest for jailed British-Egyptian Alaa Abdel-Fattah

Youth climate activist Greta Thunberg has made a surprise visit to London’s solidarity sit-in for writer and activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who is being imprisoned by Egypt.

Alaa’s sister Sanaa Seif began her sit-in protest outside the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office almost two weeks ago.

Seif is calling on UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly to secure the release of her brother, who holds British citizenship, after 200 days of hunger strike and years of incarceration.

Just another morning. 212 days on hunger strike for Alaa. A visit to the sit-in by @GretaThunberg ahead of #COP27. Kids making t-shirts, building a better future. #FreeAlaa pic.twitter.com/xG7cQqL4SY

— Khalid Abdalla (@khalidabdalla) October 30, 2022

Thunberg lent her support for Alaa and his sisters, who are pushing for him to be released before the COP27 summit begins in Egypt on 6 November.

She also wrote in the sit-in visitors' book, which bears the names of David Lammy MP, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Layla Moran MP and many others who have visited the protest site.

"It was deeply moving to have @GretaThunberg's solidarity at the #FreeAlaa sit-in today. A big thank you," tweeted the campaign.

"For #COP27 not to greenwash Egypt's human rights abuses, prisoners of conscience must be released now."

Greta Thunberg, who rose to international acclaim after going on strike at her Swedish school in protest against the climate crisis, is in the UK for the global launch of her new publication, 'The Climate Book'. 

The international climate meet will be held in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from next week. 

Egyptian activists have argued that real action on the climate can only be taken if activists, journalists, scientists and others like Alaa Abdel-Fattah are free to put pressure on their governments, without fear of imprisonment and repression.