In brief
Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist known for his pro-democracy stance, has been pardoned by Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after spending six years in prison. His conviction stemmed from charges of 'spreading false news.' His release aligns with the National Council for Human Rights' request and highlights ongoing discussions about political freedom in Egypt.
Egypt's president has pardoned prominent British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been imprisoned for six years, state media and his lawyer say.
Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has commuted the sentences of Abdel Fattah and five others following a request from the National Council for Human Rights, according to Al-Qahera News. The news was confirmed by his lawyer, who celebrated the announcement on social media.
The 43-year-old blogger and pro-democracy activist is recognized as one of Egypt's most notable political prisoners. He was initially arrested in 2019 shortly after he completed a prior five-year prison sentence and was convicted in 2021 for 'spreading false news' due to a Facebook post regarding reports of torture within Egypt.
Although he was scheduled for release in September 2024, Egyptian authorities did not count over two years spent in pre-trial detention towards his total time served.
Alaa's situation has often drawn international attention, particularly due to his mother’s protests, including hunger strikes, aimed at highlighting his unjust imprisonment.
