British-Egyptian Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah Arrives in UK After Travel Ban Lifted
Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist, arrived in London on 26 December 2025 after Egypt lifted a travel ban that had prevented him from leaving the country following his release from prison in September 2025.
Abd el-Fattah spent nearly ten years in Egyptian detention, largely due to his opposition to the government's treatment of dissidents. Time spent in pre-trial detention was not counted towards his sentence. His previous attempt to fly from Cairo to London in November 2025 was blocked by Egyptian security forces.
The lifting of the travel ban now permits him to travel freely between Cairo and London, where his teenage son Khaled lives in Brighton. Abd el-Fattah was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, having already served a five-year sentence from September 2019 for 'spreading false news.'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Abd el-Fattah's return, thanking campaigners and stating that the case had been a government priority. Starmer credited President Sisi's pardon in facilitating this outcome. UK officials had actively pressed for Abd el-Fattah's release, including three calls from Starmer to Sisi and calls from Jonathan Powell urging an end to his detention. Access to Abd el-Fattah while jailed was restricted by Egyptian authorities because of dual citizenship issues.
Changes at the Egyptian embassy in London were noted as contributing to a less inflexible stance on the matter. Family campaigns emphasized the need for Abd el-Fattah's freedom of movement. His sister Sana expressed relief at his return but emphasized that he still requires full freedom of movement.
