Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has granted a presidential pardon to activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has spent most of the past 12 years in prison.
The pardon, announced on Monday, also included five other detainees.
Abdel Fattah, 43, became a symbol of opposition and human rights advocacy during Egypt’s 2011 uprising and had faced multiple imprisonments, including a five-year sentence in 2021 for allegedly spreading false news. The decision to pardon him followed appeals from Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights, which cited humanitarian and health concerns.
His mother, Laila Soueif, had staged hunger strikes to protest his incarceration, adding pressure for his release. Abdel Fattah’s name was recently removed from Egypt’s terrorism list, allowing him to travel in the future.
Supporters and family members hope the pardon signals a shift in Egypt’s approach to political detentions and promotes greater respect for human rights. Abdel Fattah is expected to be released within days after the presidential decision is published in the Official Gazette.
