Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has freed Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, 43, along with five fellow inmates.
His lawyer announced the pardon on September 22, 2025, following prolonged jail time and hunger strikes that drew worldwide attention.
Symbol of Resistance
Abd el-Fattah stands as Egypt’s leading political detainee, facing repeated arrests for his advocacy. He represents defiance against Sisi’s broad suppression of dissent, spending much of his life behind bars.
Path to Freedom
Campaigns for his release peaked during Egypt’s 2022 COP27 hosting. Hopes grew in September when Sisi directed a review of his case. Earlier, Abd el-Fattah’s name was cleared from Egypt’s terrorism registry.
Official Release Process
Egypt’s state-backed human rights council praised the move as a step toward faster justice. The pardon will appear in the official journal soon, likely leading to his exit from Wadi al-Natroun prison, 100 km from Cairo, within days.
Family’s Vigil
Abd el-Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif, and sister, Sanaa Seif, waited outside the facility, optimistic for his Monday discharge. From a family of noted advocates, Soueif met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer this year to plead for her son.
History of Detention
Abd el-Fattah gained British citizenship via his mother in 2021. He was held before the 2011 Arab Spring ousting of Hosni Mubarak and amid the chaos after.
His sharpest criticisms came against Sisi’s post-2013 crackdowns as army chief.
Prison Sentences
In 2014, he got 15 years for unauthorized protests, cut to five. Freed in 2019 under parole, he was rearrested that year for alleged false news on a detainee’s death, earning another five years.
Hunger Strikes and Campaigns
Soueif ramped up efforts last September, expecting his release after pre-trial time. Prosecutors kept him until 2027. Her UK hunger strike ended after family pleas as her health failed. Starmer vowed full support.
Abd el-Fattah joined with several hunger strikes, the latest in early September, protesting his confinement and backing his mother.
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