Alaa Abdel Fattah, British-Egyptian Activist, Reunited with Family After Prison Release

Fri Sep 26 2025 14:29:39 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent British-Egyptian activist and political prisoner, has been released from nearly six years of imprisonment in Egypt. His release follows a presidential pardon, sparking celebrations among his family and supporters.

Alaa Abdel Fattah, a significant figure in Egypt's pro-democracy movement, has been freed after almost six years in prison due to a presidential pardon. Celebrating his release with family, he reflects on the journey and the plight of political prisoners in the country. His case has drawn international attention and support, illustrating the ongoing issues of human rights in Egypt.

British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been freed and reunited with his family after almost six years of imprisonment in Egypt.

One of the country's most prominent political prisoners, he was pardoned by President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on Monday, reportedly after a request from the National Council for Human Rights.

Video of the blogger and pro-democracy activist, 43, at home after his release shows him grinning widely and jumping up and down as he celebrates with his sister and mother.

Laila Soueif, who went on an extensive hunger strike during her son's imprisonment, expressed that while they are joyful, the ultimate happiness will come when there are no political prisoners left.

Abdel Fattah was released from Wadi al-Natrun prison late on Monday and celebrated reuniting with his family at his mother's apartment in Giza.

His sister Sanaa Seif remarked, 'I cannot yet comprehend that this is real.'

The activist was arrested in 2019 during a crackdown on dissent and sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of spreading false news for sharing a post about a prisoner who died from torture.

Just two weeks ago, Sisi ordered the authorities to examine the petition from the National Council for Human Rights concerning Abdel Fattah’s release, citing humanitarian and health conditions.

Despite the official release after his five-year sentence, family members stated that the two years he spent in pre-trial detention were not counted.

His mother, Laila Soueif, had previously conducted a prolonged hunger strike to demand his release. She was hospitalized twice during her 287-day strike, which concluded after a statement from the UK Foreign Secretary hinted at Abdel Fattah's expected release.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had also stated his intention to ensure Abdel Fattah's freedom, reflecting a strong cross-parliamentary consensus.

However, uncertainty lingers over Abdel Fattah's ability to travel to the UK to be with his son, as his sister expressed her hope that his release will feel more real once his son can join him after traveling.

Abdel Fattah gained notoriety during the 2011 uprising that resulted in President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation. Since then, he has often been imprisoned, particularly in the wake of the 2013 military coup orchestrated by Sisi to oust Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi.

Human rights organizations have condemned the total crackdown on dissent under Sisi's government, which has led to the detention of tens of thousands.

Despite acquiring British citizenship in 2021, Egyptian authorities have repeatedly denied consular access to him, leaving many questions unanswered regarding his future.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has previously deemed his arrest arbitrary and found that he was denied a fair trial based on his exercise of free expression.