In a significant development that marks the end of a long and arduous ordeal, Egypt’s president has announced the pardon of Alaa Abd El Fattah, the nation’s most recognizable political prisoner. This momentous decision, confirmed by a presidential statement on Monday, follows years of relentless advocacy, diplomatic efforts, and deeply personal struggles.
Mr. Abd El Fattah, now 43, has spent the better part of the last twelve years behind bars due to his outspoken dissident activities. He was initially expected to walk free last September after completing a five-year sentence imposed in 2019. However, authorities continued his detention, contending that his two years of pretrial custody did not count towards his sentence, a move that sparked widespread outcry.
The precise timing of his physical release from prison remained unconfirmed at the time of the announcement.
Facing the grim prospect of indefinite imprisonment, Mr. Abd El Fattah and his courageous mother, Laila Soueif, embarked on a series of hunger strikes, which tragically led to Ms. Soueif’s repeated hospitalizations. Their deteriorating health amplified global concerns and intensified calls for his freedom.
This desperate situation galvanized international support, particularly from Britain, given that both mother and son hold dual British-Egyptian citizenship. British officials in both Cairo and London had been tirelessly advocating for his release for years. The urgency of the situation was underscored when Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally reached out to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi earlier this year to discuss the case.
For a long time, President el-Sisi had seemingly disregarded appeals from a broad spectrum of international figures, including world leaders, Nobel laureates, celebrities, and human rights activists, leading many of Abd El Fattah’s fervent supporters to believe his release might never happen.
Upon hearing the news, his sister, Sanaa Seif, shared her overwhelming joy in a social media post, exclaiming, “President Sisi has pardoned my brother! Omg I can’t believe we get our lives back!”