Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has issued a presidential pardon for political activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, along with five other detainees.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah, 43, is an Egyptian-British national and a veteran of the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. Known for his activism, Abd El-Fattah spent much of the past decade behind bars under various charges, including protesting without authorization and spreading false news and enticement of violence against the police.
The presidential pardon follows a recent petition submitted by Egypt’s state-funded National Council for Human Rights, which called for clemency for Abd El-Fattah and others. Earlier this month, President Sisi instructed the relevant authorities to examine the petition, which eventually led to the decision to pardon. In a notable precursor to the pardon, Abd El-Fattah had been removed from Egypt’s terrorism list a few months prior, signaling a potential shift in the state’s position on his case.
Although the pardon has been confirmed, the release will take effect only after the decision is officially published in Egypt’s Official Gazette. Abd El-Fattah’s family, including his mother Laila Soueif and sister Sanaa Seif, were seen waiting outside Wadi El-Natrun prison, expressing hope that his release would come within hours or days. His family has been a constant presence in public advocacy efforts, with his mother even launching a hunger strike in the UK last year to bring attention to his case.
The pardon has been welcomed by various organizations and observers who see it as a good gesture from President Sisi.
