High-profile Egyptian British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah was freed on Tuesday, according to his family, following a pardon by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that also included five other prisoners. Abd el-Fattah, 43, has been a prominent political detainee in Egypt due to his activism, enduring multiple detentions and hunger strikes, making him a rare symbol of opposition amid Sisi’s crackdown. His release sparked joy among his family, with his mother expressing happiness while emphasizing the need for the release of all political prisoners in Egypt.
Laila Soueif and Alaa’s sister Sanaa eagerly awaited his release outside Wadi al-Natroun prison, where he was held before being pardoned. Despite global calls for his freedom, it was only after Sisi directed authorities in September to consider his pardon that hopes for his release were raised, particularly after his removal from Egypt’s “terrorism” list. Abd el-Fattah, who acquired British citizenship in 2021, hails from a family of activists and intellectuals who have campaigned tirelessly for his freedom, even meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for support.
The news of his pardon was welcomed by British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, expressing gratitude to President Sisi for the decision and anticipating Abd el-Fattah’s return to the UK. Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights also supported the move, signaling a shift towards swifter justice in the country. Abd el-Fattah, a former blogger, was detained before and during the Arab Spring uprising, but his criticism of government crackdowns under Sisi led to his most extended prison terms.
In 2014, he was sentenced to 15 years, later reduced to five, for protesting without authorization. Despite a temporary release in 2019, he was rearrested for allegedly spreading fake news and handed another five-year sentence. His mother intensified efforts for his release in 2024, staging a hunger strike in the UK, eventually ending it due to deteriorating health. Abd el-Fattah has also undertaken hunger strikes in detention to protest his imprisonment and support his mother.
