The family of a prominent Egypt blogger imprisoned for protesting say he has been hospitalized after 78 days on hunger strike.
Alaa Abdel-Fattah, 33, is facing a retrial after he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for taking part in an unauthorized protest, and for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
Abdel-Fattah says the trial, which includes 24 other defendants, is a farce. He started a hunger strike soon after he was re-arrested despite an earlier release on bail.
His wife Manal Hassan said today that Abdel-Fattah was moved a day earlier to a prison hospital after his blood sugar level dropped dangerously low. He has already lost more than 28 pounds, but is refusing to end his strike.
"He is on strike for his freedom," she said.
