Pardon and Release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah

Egypt frees its most prominent political prisoner after years in detention

Egyptian-British activist and journalist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been granted a presidential pardon by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and released after spending nearly twelve years behind bars.

Abd el-Fattah’s imprisonment spanned multiple sentences tied to accusations of “spreading false news,” participation in unauthorized protests, and other politically framed charges. Though officially his five-year term was supposed to conclude in September 2024, authorities had refused to account for his pretrial detention, thereby extending his confinement until the pardon was issued.

The pardon was issued alongside clemency for five other prisoners, following advocacy by Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights and sustained pressure from his family, supporters, and international human rights groups. Upon release, Abd el-Fattah was reunited with his mother, Laila Soueif, and sister Sanaa Seif, who had long campaigned on his behalf—including hunger strikes and petitions to foreign governments.

Human rights organizations have welcomed the development, calling the pardon a necessary correction of a “grave injustice” while reminding that many political prisoners in Egypt remain detained under similar circumstances. For his part, Abd el-Fattah’s release is seen as emblematic of the broader demands for political reform, free expression, and the protection of dissent in Egypt.

While the pardon marks a personal victory for him and his family, observers assert that meaningful change will require the release of all prisoners held on politically motivated charges and guarantees for civil and press freedoms in Egypt.

To read the full story: https://tjcproject.org/alaa-abd-el-fattah-freed-after-presidential-pardon-in-egypt/