Egyptian-British Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah Freed in Presidential Pardon

Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been pardoned and released from prison. The news was reported by Egyptian state-aligned television channels this week. His release follows years of international pressure and family-led campaigns.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued the pardon. This action comes less than two weeks after Sisi ordered a review of the dissident’s case. The release marks a significant moment for human rights advocacy in Egypt.

A Decade-Long Imprisonment for a Prominent Voice

Alaa Abd el-Fattah is a veteran pro-democracy campaigner. He first gained prominence during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. For almost the last ten years, he has been consistently behind bars.

His most recent sentence was five years. It was handed down in December 2021. The charge was spreading false news for sharing a social media post. According to Reuters, his family reported harsh conditions during his detention at Cairo’s Tora prison.

International Pressure and Family Campaigns

The campaign for his release involved intense international effort. The British government, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had repeatedly appealed to President Sisi. Despite this, previous attempts to secure his freedom had failed.

His family campaigned tirelessly. His mother, Laila Soueif, recently ended her own hunger strike after nearly a year. Abd el-Fattah himself had undertaken several hunger strikes, bringing his health to a critical point during the COP27 climate summit.

Human rights groups view his case as symbolic. They say it represents a wider crackdown on dissent in Egypt. The pardon is seen as a notable development in the country’s human rights record.

The release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah concludes a long and painful chapter for his family and supporters. This Alaa Abd el-Fattah pardon demonstrates the impact of sustained international advocacy. His freedom is celebrated as a victory for human rights defenders globally.

Info at your fingertips

Who is Alaa Abd el-Fattah?

Alaa Abd el-Fattah is an Egyptian-British software developer and pro-democracy activist. He became a leading voice during the 2011 Arab Spring protests in Egypt. He comes from a well-known family of political activists.

Why was Alaa Abd el-Fattah in prison?

He was serving a five-year sentence for “spreading false news.” The charge related to a social media post he shared about a prisoner’s death. This was his latest prison term in a series of detentions over the past decade.

What role did the British government play?

The British government applied consistent diplomatic pressure for his release. Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally raised the case with President Sisi earlier this year. The UK’s involvement was significant due to Abd el-Fattah’s British citizenship.

How did his family campaign for him?

His mother, Laila Soueif, was a central figure in the campaign. She undertook a lengthy public hunger strike to draw attention to his case. The family also utilized social media and international media outlets to advocate for him.

What is the significance of this pardon?

The pardon is a major event for human rights observers. It ends a high-profile case that had strained Egypt’s relations with Western nations. Analysts see it as a potential, though limited, shift in the government’s approach.

Trusted Sources

Reuters, Associated Press, BBC News.