Following an arduous journey marked by years of struggle, persistent diplomatic pressure, and repeated hunger strikes, Egypt’s President has officially pardoned Alaa Abd El Fattah, the nation’s most renowned political prisoner. This momentous decision was announced in a presidential statement on Monday.
Mr. Abd El Fattah, 43, a British-Egyptian dual citizen, has spent the better part of the last twelve years behind bars due to his outspoken dissident activities. He was initially slated for release last September after completing a five-year sentence from 2019. However, Egyptian authorities controversially refused to count his two years of pretrial detention towards his sentence, keeping him incarcerated.
As of the announcement, his immediate release from prison was not confirmed.
The presidential statement, issued by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, confirmed the pardon of ‘the remaining sentences of several prisoners,’ explicitly naming Mr. Abd El Fattah among six other detainees.
The statement further elaborated that this clemency ‘reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening human rights initiatives, promoting tolerance, and offering those pardoned the opportunity to begin a new life.’
Credit: Mohamed El Raai, via Reuters
The profound concern that Mr. Abd El Fattah might face indefinite detention compelled both him and his mother, Laila Soueif, to undertake a series of hunger strikes. These desperate measures severely impacted Ms. Soueif’s health, leading to multiple hospitalizations.
Their deteriorating health intensified international pressure on Britain, given that both mother and son hold dual British-Egyptian citizenship. For years, British officials in both Cairo and London actively campaigned for his release, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally addressing the matter with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi earlier this year.
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Despite widespread appeals from global leaders, Nobel laureates, celebrities, and human rights activists, President el-Sisi had consistently resisted calls for Mr. Abd El Fattah’s release, causing many of his supporters to lose hope.
Expressing immense relief on social media, his sister, Sanaa Seif, exclaimed, ‘President Sisi has pardoned my brother! Omg I can’t believe we get our lives back!’
Ms. Seif revealed that the family had no prior knowledge of the pardon, stating it came as a complete surprise.
She added, ‘We learned about this just like everyone else, from the news. We have no idea where he is going to be released from, and are going to the prison to ask.’
Mr. Abd El Fattah stands as one of the most recognized activists of his generation.
As a software developer and insightful intellectual, his sharp and forward-thinking analysis of Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring revolution established him as a leading voice documenting its triumphs and eventual disappointments. He and his family dedicated themselves to forging a democratic Egypt, only to witness their dreams shattered just two years later by a military takeover orchestrated by Mr. el-Sisi.
In a powerful March 2014 essay, he posed a poignant question: ‘Which is easier, to avoid challenging authority and to assume its good intention? Or to persuade society that it’s absurd to try to live with an authority that allows itself murder and torture and detentions?’
Since assuming power in 2013, President el-Sisi’s government has incarcerated tens of thousands of individuals deemed political opponents. The majority endure months or even years in prison without trial or formal sentencing. Instead of releasing them after their maximum legal pretrial detention period expires, prosecutors frequently levy new charges, thereby extending their time in custody.
Egyptian officials have consistently offered conflicting narratives: either denying the existence of political prisoners altogether or justifying the mass arrests as crucial for maintaining security following the tumultuous Arab Spring. Many detainees have been labeled as terrorists or accused of violating laws against spreading ‘false news.’
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However, whether due to intense international pressure or other internal considerations, Mr. Abd El Fattah’s case has diverged from this pattern.
Notably, he was removed from Egypt’s terrorist list earlier this summer. More recently, President el-Sisi formally directed authorities to review a petition for his release.
Despite this pardon, there’s no absolute certainty that Mr. Abd El Fattah will remain free. A previous release in 2019, following a five-year prison term, was tragically short-lived, as he was re-arrested just six months later.
Furthermore, a troubling pattern exists where other high-profile dissidents, once released from detention, have subsequently faced renewed charges.