Fri Dec 26 21:07:06 UTC 2025: News Article:

UK PM Hails Release and Return of Egyptian-British Blogger Alaa Abd El-Fattah

London, UK – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed “profound relief” following the arrival of Egyptian-British activist and blogger Alaa Abd El-Fattah in the United Kingdom. Abd El-Fattah, a prominent critic of the Egyptian government, spent nearly 12 years in Egyptian prisons.

Abd El-Fattah’s release comes after a pardon granted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in September, following intense international pressure and a series of hunger strikes by the activist. Starmer praised Abd El-Fattah’s family and supporters for their tireless advocacy, adding that Abd El-Fattah’s case has been a top priority for his government since they came to office.

A prominent voice during the 2011 Egyptian uprising, Abd El-Fattah later became a vocal critic of el-Sisi, who came to power in 2013. He was initially jailed in 2011, then sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2014 on charges of spreading false news. He was briefly released in 2019 before being re-sentenced to five years.

Egyptian authorities maintain that they do not hold political prisoners, arguing that activists are only jailed for violating the law.

Following his pardon, Abd El-Fattah faced a travel ban, but hinted at his departure from Egypt in a cryptic social media post early Friday.

The UK government had previously voiced concerns about Abd El-Fattah’s well-being while imprisoned, but faced criticism for not applying enough pressure on the Egyptian government, a key ally.

“Praise be to God, Alaa reached London safely,” his mother, Laila Soueif, posted on social media, confirming his arrival.

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