After nearly twelve years behind bars, Egyptian-British pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah was released from prison early Tuesday, September 23, 2025, following a presidential pardon by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The news, confirmed by his family and lawyer, was met with a swell of jubilation among supporters and human rights advocates, both in Egypt and abroad, who had campaigned tirelessly for his freedom.
Abd el-Fattah’s release marks the end of a saga that began in 2014, when he was first sentenced to 15 years in prison—later reduced to five—for participating in an unauthorized protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer. His activism, particularly during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled then-President Hosni Mubarak, had already made him a prominent figure in Egypt’s pro-democracy movement. According to the Associated Press, Abd el-Fattah’s case became symbolic of the decline of Egypt’s democratic aspirations and the harsh reality faced by political dissidents under the current regime.
His journey through Egypt’s justice system was fraught with setbacks. After a brief release in early 2019, Abd el-Fattah was detained again later that year during a security crackdown following rare anti-government protests. He was held in pretrial detention for over two years before being sentenced by an emergency security court to another five years for “spreading false news.” Despite his release date coming up in September 2024, authorities refused to count his pretrial detention time, ordering him held until January 2027—a decision that fueled further outrage among his family and supporters.
The breakthrough came after the National Council for Human Rights, a state-funded body in Egypt, acted on behalf of Abd el-Fattah’s family and others, urging President el-Sisi to consider their situations on humanitarian grounds. The Council’s petition, submitted earlier in September 2025, listed seven names, including Abd el-Fattah’s. The Council welcomed the resulting pardon, describing it as evidence of “a growing commitment to reinforcing the principles of swift justice and upholding fundamental rights and freedoms.”
Abd el-Fattah’s family, particularly his mother, Laila Soueif, played a pivotal role in the campaign for his release. Soueif, a British citizen and former mathematics professor, began a hunger strike in the UK in September 2024 after Egyptian authorities refused to release her son. The hunger strike, which lasted nearly a year, only ended two months ago when her health deteriorated significantly. According to Sky News, Soueif lost 35 kilograms and became seriously ill, finally ending her protest at her family’s urging.
His sister, Mona Seif, shared her elation on social media, posting a photo of Abd el-Fattah smiling with his mother and sister Sanaa. “The world is full of nightmares, injustice, violence, and many things that break the heart... but we can take a breath and give happiness a chance to fill our hearts... and keep going,” she wrote. In another post, she added, “Oh Lord, the same joy for the families of all the detainees. Can you imagine if this happened, how much beauty and happiness would fill our world in a single moment?”
Support for Abd el-Fattah’s release was not limited to his immediate family. His case drew international attention, with leaders from Britain, France, and Germany reportedly raising the issue in private talks with President el-Sisi during the 2022 United Nations climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. That summit coincided with one of Abd el-Fattah’s most dramatic hunger strikes, which ended only after he lost consciousness and was revived with fluids, according to AP.
Abd el-Fattah’s British citizenship, acquired in 2021 through his UK-born mother, added a diplomatic dimension to his plight. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper publicly welcomed the pardon, expressing gratitude to President el-Sisi and stating, “We look forward to Alaa being able to return to the UK, to be reunited with his family.” Earlier this year, Laila Soueif met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lobby for her son’s release, and Starmer reportedly promised to do everything possible to secure Abd el-Fattah’s freedom.
His lawyer, Khaled Ali, confirmed the presidential pardon on Monday, September 22, 2025, posting on Facebook, “God is the judge. The president of the republic has issued a decree pardoning Alaa Abd El Fattah. Congratulations.” Ali also noted that a court order had recently removed Abd el-Fattah’s name from Egypt’s “terrorism list,” potentially allowing him to travel out of the country, though it remains unclear whether he will choose to leave Egypt or stay. “I hope this pardon creates an opportunity to find a serious solution for prolonged pretrial detentions and sentences against politicians and activists just because they had an opinion,” Ali told AP.
Abd el-Fattah’s release comes against a backdrop of ongoing concerns about Egypt’s human rights record. Human rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of prisoners of conscience remain incarcerated under President el-Sisi’s rule. They allege that these detainees are denied due process and subjected to abuse and torture—claims that Egyptian officials consistently deny. Amr Magdi, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, remarked, “Hopefully his release will act as a watershed moment, providing the government with the opportunity to end the wrongful detention of thousands of peaceful critics.”
The activist’s family is no stranger to public advocacy. His late father was a prominent rights lawyer, and his sisters, Mona and Sanaa, are also well-known activists. His aunt, Ahdaf Soueif, is an award-winning novelist. Their relentless campaign for Abd el-Fattah’s release, which included high-profile meetings, hunger strikes, and international lobbying, has been widely praised. UK MP Emily Thornberry posted on social media, “Laila, Mona, Sanaa and Alaa’s entire family’s tireless campaign for his release has been incredibly moving—their love for him was clear when I met Sanaa last year. I am so glad they will get to see him come home.”
Despite the celebration, Abd el-Fattah’s release is bittersweet for many. His mother, Laila Soueif, told Reuters, “We’re happy, of course. But our greatest joy will come when there are no [political] prisoners in Egypt.” Lina Attalah, editor in chief of independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr and a close friend, echoed this sentiment: “It has been so long... and we have been in such defeat mode that such victory always felt far. Nonetheless, something in my heart was sure that his struggle, his mother’s struggle and his family’s struggle for his freedom won’t go in vain.”
As Abd el-Fattah reunites with his family in Cairo, the question remains whether his release will signal broader reforms or merely serve as a rare exception. For now, his supporters savor the moment, hopeful that this hard-won freedom might be the first step toward a more just future in Egypt.
