Prominent Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been released from prison after nearly 12 years following a presidential pardon. His sister, Mona Seif, shared the joyous news on social media, posting a picture of Abd el-Fattah with their family. Abd el-Fattah was arrested in 2014 after participating in an unauthorized protest and was targeted again in 2019 amidst a wider security crackdown in Egypt. He has been a symbol of Egypt’s democratic struggles, having participated in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that led to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.
His release comes after the National Council for Human Rights intervened, advocating on humanitarian grounds for Abd el-Fattah’s freedom alongside other political prisoners. Amr Magdi from Human Rights Watch expressed hope that this event could mark a turning point for Egypt in addressing unjust detentions of peaceful critics.
Abd el-Fattah’s family has actively campaigned for his release, with his mother, Laila Soueif, notably conducting a personal hunger strike in the UK to draw attention to her son’s plight. This advocacy, along with petitions from independent rights groups, appears to have influenced President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s decision to consider such cases on compassionate grounds.
Despite celebrating his release, it remains uncertain whether Abd el-Fattah, who holds dual citizenship, will leave Egypt. His lawyer mentioned that there has been a removal of his name from the government’s “terrorism list,” potentially paving the way for international travel. However, Abd el-Fattah has expressed his desire to maintain his Egyptian citizenship and continue living in the country.
Reactions globally have been optimistic, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressing gratitude to President el-Sissi and hopeful that this development will lead to further reforms in Egypt concerning prolonged detentions and political freedom. Abd el-Fattah’s long journey underscores not only the challenges faced by activists in Egypt but also the perseverance of their families and supporters in advocating for human rights and justice.