British-Egyptian Activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah Returns to UK After Prison Release
Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist, has returned to the UK for the first time following his release from six years in an Egyptian prison. He was released in September 2025 after receiving a presidential pardon for charges related to spreading false news. Subsequently, on 20 December 2025, a travel ban was lifted, enabling his return on Boxing Day (26 December 2025).
Abd El-Fattah holds dual nationality through his mother, Laila Soueif. Upon returning to the UK, he was reunited with his mother. His 14-year-old son, Khaled, resides in Brighton with his mother.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed Abd El-Fattah's return, expressing thanks to those who campaigned on his behalf. The government regards the pardon from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi as a key outcome.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah first gained prominence during the 2011 Cairo protests against Hosni Mubarak. In 2014, he had been sentenced to 15 years for protesting without permission, a sentence later reduced to five years. He was released in 2019 but was re-arrested after sharing a Facebook post detailing prison abuses.
His case highlights the ongoing crackdown on political dissent in Egypt under President Abdel Fattah al Sisi. Abd El-Fattah remains one of the country's most prominent political prisoners.
