Alaa Abd El-Fattah, the renowned Egyptian-British activist, has been released from prison. He has received a personal presidential pardon from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. This new development follows Abd El-Fattah’s original 2014 sentencing of 15 years imprisonment for the charge of participating in an unauthorized protest. His release represents an important victory in Egypt’s long, ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights.
After spending more than six years in pre-trial detention, Abd El-Fattah’s case had come to represent the plight of political dissent in Egypt. He suffered years of imprisonment, including several vigorous hunger strikes. The fiercest of these protests unfolded at the United Nations climate summit last year in Egypt. This era of activism showed his steadfastness in fighting for change even in the face of danger.
Abd El-Fattah’s family, famous for their deep personal traditions of activism and intellectual life, rejoiced on September 23, 2025 when he was freed. They were overjoyed to be able to bring him back home with them in Giza. Laila Soueif—his mother—was finally able to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in 2025. As a mother, she fought tooth and nail to have her son freed. Right after receiving her pardon, she took to social media to convey her joy.
“I can’t even describe what I feel.” – Laila Soueif
Despite the joy surrounding Abd El-Fattah’s freedom, his family remains cognizant of the broader context of political imprisonment in Egypt. Laila Soueif remarked on their mixed emotions, stating, “We’re happy, of course. But our greatest joy will come when there are no [political] prisoners in Egypt.”
For context, Abd El-Fattah has one other taste of freedom, in 2019. Then he was re-arrested later that year and got hit with another five-year sentence. His recent pardon reaches far beyond his personal story and launches a critical conversation about human rights in Egypt. This story has captured imaginations across the globe, leading UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to express solidarity.
“I strongly welcome the news that Alaa Abd El-Fattah has received a Presidential pardon.” – Yvette Cooper
Human rights advocate and activist for civicspace Mona Seif, Abd El-Fattah’s sister, turned to social media after his release to proclaim the joyous news—“Alaa is free.” She closed by stressing the desire for this moment to be a turning point for other political prisoners too.
“Oh Lord, the same joy for the families of all the detainees.” – Mona Seif
Abd El-Fattah’s activism began long before the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. That uprising, in turn, spread across the region and resulted in the ousting of Egypt’s longtime leader, Hosni Mubarak. Like Nelson Mandela’s, his commitment to fighting for democratic rights has stood the test of decades of oppression, hardships and trials.
His release has received worldwide acclaim and raised the hopes of many who supported efforts for political change in Egypt. The sentiment expressed by his sister encapsulates this hope:
“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.” – Mona Seif
