Freedom and Reunion: Alaa Abdel Fattah Celebrates Release from Prison

Tue Oct 21 2025 12:57:41 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a joyful reunion, British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah celebrates his release from a six-year imprisonment, marking a new chapter for human rights in Egypt.

Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent British-Egyptian activist, was released from prison after six years, reuniting with his family. His mother, who endured a hunger strike to advocate for his release, expressed hope that this moment will inspire the release of others imprisoned under President Sisi’s rule. UK officials have welcomed the pardon, emphasizing the significance of this event for political prisoners in Egypt.

British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been freed and reunited with his family after spending the past six years in jail in Egypt. One of the country's most prominent political prisoners, he was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on Monday.

Video of the blogger and pro-democracy activist, 43, at home following his release showed him grinning widely and jumping up and down as he celebrated with his mother Laila Soueif and sister Sanaa Seif.

His other sister, Mona Seif, told the BBC from the UK his release was a moment of collective hope.

She said she hoped it would mark the beginning of the release of other political prisoners detained under Sisi's rule and the end of what she called a very dark chapter.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the pardon, saying she was grateful to President Sisi for this decision. We look forward to Alaa being able to return to the UK, to be reunited with his family, she added.

Abdel Fattah was released from Wadi al-Natrun prison late on Monday and celebrated reuniting with his family at his mother's apartment in Giza. His mother, who launched a 287-day hunger strike last September to protest against his imprisonment, told reporters: I can't even describe what I feel.

We're happy, of course. But our greatest joy will come when there are no [political] prisoners in Egypt, she added.

His sister Mona expressed eagerness to see Alaa, stating, It has been the longest 12 years of this madness, nightmare, and heartache. And now Alaa is out, Alaa is free, Alaa is home.

Abdel Fattah first gained prominence during the 2011 uprising in Egypt that led to the resignation of long-time President Hosni Mubarak. He has spent most of his time in prison since 2014 when President Sisi assumed power following a military coup that ousted the first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, after anti-government protests.

As Sisi's rule continues, human rights groups highlight what they call an unprecedented crackdown on dissent, with tens of thousands imprisoned for their political beliefs.

Mona Seif noted that their mother's hunger strike played a crucial role in securing her brother's release, a sentiment echoed by advocates calling for greater human rights reforms in Egypt.