Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi amid reports that Sisi has ordered officials to study a request to pardon British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah. The call, which took place on Wednesday, focused on the situation in Gaza and bilateral ties, but Abd el-Fattah's release remains a Foreign Office priority.
Hopes for a pardon have been raised after Egypt's National Human Rights Council called for Abd el-Fattah's release, arguing it would restore stability to his family. The council's statement said a pardon would reflect the humanitarian dimension of the state. A decision is expected within days.
Abd el-Fattah was arrested in 2019 for endorsing a social media post about a prisoner's death and sentenced to five years for broadcasting false news. His family claims time served before sentencing should count towards his term, meaning he has served nearly an extra year. His mother, Laila Soueif, ended a hunger strike in September after Foreign Office assurances of progress.
In July, a Cairo criminal court removed Abd el-Fattah's name from a terrorism list. The Egyptian attorney general and interior ministry have reportedly completed reports for Sisi on the validity of the sentence and eligibility for a pardon. Abd el-Fattah's family, while hopeful, remain cautious and are praying for his release.
