British-Egyptian activist stopped from flying to UK, says family

"Alaa Abd el-Fattah, the British-Egyptian writer and human rights campaigner who was freed from jail in September, was stopped from flying to the UK by Egyptian passport control, his family has said. Abd el-Fattah was pardoned after more than 10 years in jail but his status, including his right to travel back and forth between Britain and Egypt, was left unclear and subject to discussion between the family and authorities."

"I wish my brother could be here tonight to accept this award. I wish he could be reunited with his son, Khaled, in Brighton. But on Tuesday morning we went to Cairo airport together to come to London, and he was stopped by Egyptian authorities at passport control and they refused to allow him to travel with me."

"Abd el-Fattah has conducted interviews about his experience of freedom in the British press, including the Guardian as well in the Egyptian dissident press. He had indicated he needed time to think about his future. His son, Khaled, is 13 and lives with his mother in Brighton where he attends a special educational needs school."

Alaa Abd el-Fattah was pardoned by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi on 22 September and released from Wadi el-Natrun prison after more than ten years in jail. His legal and travel status between Britain and Egypt remained unclear and was under discussion between the family and authorities. He attempted to fly to London with his sister, Sanaa Seif, to attend two conferences including the Magnitsky human rights awards but was stopped at Cairo international airport by passport control and denied travel. Seif accepted the Courage Under Fire award on behalf of Abd el-Fattah and their mother, Laila Soueif. Abd el-Fattah has given interviews in British and Egyptian dissident media and indicated he needs time to consider his future. His 13-year-old son, Khaled, lives in Brighton and has not been reunited with him.

Read at www.theguardian.com