Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah freed after Sisi pardon

"Alaa Abd El-Fattah is considered among the most high-profile political prisoners held in Egypt's prisons. Prominent Egyptian-British human rights activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah has been freed after spending most of the past 12 years in prison, his family said, a day after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pardoned him and five other prisoners. I can't even describe what I feel, Abd El-Fattah's mother, Laila Soueif, said from her house in Giza early on Tuesday as she stood next to her son,"

"Considered to be among the most high-profile political prisoners in Egypt, Abd El-Fattah's lengthy imprisonment and repeated hunger strikes had prompted international pleas for the Egyptian government to release him. The former blogger had been detained before the Arab Spring uprising that toppled Egypt's hardline leader, Hosni Mubarak, in 2011 and during the years of upheaval that followed. But it was his criticism of government crackdowns on political dissidents after then-army chief el-Sisi gained power in Egypt in 2014."

"In 2014, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for protesting without permission. He was briefly released in 2019, but remained on parole, and was arrested again later that year and sentenced to another five-year term. Friends, family and supporters shared photos on social media of the activist after his release, showing a smiling Abd El-Fattah embracing his mother and other relatives."

Alaa Abd El-Fattah was released after spending most of the past 12 years in prison following a presidential pardon by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. His mother Laila Soueif said she could not describe her feelings and expressed hope for an Egypt without political prisoners. Abd El-Fattah endured lengthy imprisonments and repeated hunger strikes that prompted international calls for release. He was detained before the 2011 Arab Spring and during ensuing unrest, received a 15-year sentence in 2014 for protesting without permission, was briefly freed in 2019, rearrested later that year, and sentenced to another five years.

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