With a frail frame but a radiating smile, Alaa Abd El Fattah, Egypt’s most recognized political prisoner, returned home to his mother’s embrace early on Tuesday morning. This momentous release came after Egypt’s president issued a pardon just a day prior, signaling an end to a long, arduous chapter.
His emotional reunion with family marks the triumphant culmination of a years-long international advocacy effort. World leaders, Nobel laureates, and numerous celebrities rallied behind the cause, campaigning tirelessly to secure the freedom of one of the 2011 Arab Spring protests’ most prominent pro-democracy voices.
On Monday, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt formally pardoned Mr. Abd El Fattah, who has spent the majority of the last 12 years behind bars. Five other prisoners were also included in this significant decree.
Now 43, Mr. Abd El Fattah had previously been released from a prison sentence in 2019, only to be re-arrested six months later. He has remained incarcerated ever since.
Early Tuesday saw a heartwarming scene unfold at the family home in Giza. Videos from news crews captured Mr. Abd El Fattah dancing and celebrating amidst the cheers of well-wishers. He was warmly greeted by his sister, also a dedicated political activist, and his mother, Laila Soueif. Ms. Soueif, visibly overjoyed, appeared thin, a testament to the extended hunger strike both she and her son had undertaken.
The grave concern that Mr. Abd El Fattah might be held indefinitely prompted both him and Ms. Soueif to refuse food and nutrition for extended periods. These desperate measures repeatedly led to her hospitalization. Her unwavering campaign significantly amplified pressure on Britain, where both she and her son hold citizenship, compelling the government to lobby vigorously for his release.
Ms. Soueif shared that her family’s happiness would only be complete once all political prisoners in Egypt were free.
“They are still on our mind,” she expressed to a Reuters news crew visiting their home. “The great joy will be when none of them remain in prison.”
Since Mr. el-Sisi assumed power in 2013, Egyptian authorities have detained tens of thousands of individuals perceived as political opponents. Many of these individuals languish in jail for months or even years without receiving a trial or formal sentencing.
Instead of releasing them after they complete the maximum legal period of pretrial detention, prosecutors have frequently leveled new charges against many detainees, effectively extending their imprisonment indefinitely.
Egyptian officials have offered varying responses to the situation, sometimes denying the existence of political prisoners altogether. Other times, they have defended the mass arrests as a necessary measure to maintain security following the upheaval of the Arab Spring, often labeling detainees as terrorists or accusing them of violating laws against spreading false news.
However, whether influenced by persistent global pressure or other factors, Mr. Abd El Fattah’s case took a different turn. He was removed from Egypt’s terrorist list over the summer. Furthermore, earlier this month, President el-Sisi instructed authorities to consider a petition for his release.
Sanaa Seif, Mr. Abd El Fattah’s sister, informed Reuters that her brother would likely seek to travel abroad to reunite with his son, should the existing travel ban against him be lifted.