Alaa Abd El-Fattah Freed: Egyptian President Grants Pardon to Activist

Tue Oct 14 2025 22:39:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant political move, Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has pardoned Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a prominent British-Egyptian activist who had been imprisoned for six years on charges of spreading false news.

Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a well-known pro-democracy activist and blogger, was recently pardoned by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. Convicted in 2021 for sharing a social media post about torture, his release follows a request from the National Council for Human Rights. Abd El-Fattah's case has drawn international attention and sparked protests, including hunger strikes by his supporters.

In a momentous decision reflecting growing pressures for reform, Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has pardoned Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a notable British-Egyptian activist who has been imprisoned for the past six years. Many around the world have hailed this move, which addresses long-standing concerns regarding human rights and political freedoms in Egypt.

Abd El-Fattah, who has become a symbol of the struggle for democracy, was among six individuals granted clemency following actions from the National Council for Human Rights. His lawyer confirmed the news, expressing gratitude and hope for the future.

At 43, Abd El-Fattah's political activism captured global attention, particularly after his arrest in 2019, following the completion of a separate five-year sentence. His conviction stemmed from accusations of spreading false news, a charge linked to a Facebook post regarding alleged torture in Egyptian prisons.

Despite scheduled release in September 2024, authorities previously disregarded his pre-trial detention time, prolonging his imprisonment. His cause garnered heightened visibility as he and his mother undertook hunger strikes, straining attention on the human rights conditions within the country.