Lawyers for Eman el‑Shazly have appealed to the UK Foreign Office to seek her release after she was arrested in Cairo on 16 August while visiting Egypt. El‑Shazly, 45 and based in Birmingham, is a British‑Egyptian national, her representatives say.
Those representing el‑Shazly contend the detention is linked to the political activity of her sister, Mona, who runs a UK‑based YouTube channel and is described by the lawyers as a persistent critic of Egypt’s government. The legal team says the arrest was carried out as an attempt to silence or pressure the sister because of her outspoken commentary.
Lawyers and campaigners have asked the Foreign Office to intervene on humanitarian and consular grounds and to help secure el‑Shazly’s release, according to the people representing her. They have urged UK officials to seek clarity on the reasons for the detention and on her legal and welfare situation.
The case highlights concerns raised by the family’s representatives about actions taken against relatives of critics abroad. The lawyers’ statements frame the arrest as part of wider efforts to deter dissent, though details about formal charges, custody conditions or any official response from Egyptian authorities were not provided in the claims made to the media.
British authorities have been asked to look into the matter, and el‑Shazly’s legal team says it will continue to press for her immediate release and access to appropriate legal and consular support.