Egyptian authorities prevented British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah from flying to the UK this week, his family has confirmed. Abd el-Fattah, who was released from prison in September after a presidential pardon, was stopped at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday as he attempted to travel to London for human rights awards.
His sister, Sanaa Seif, told the Magnitsky human rights awards ceremony in London that passport control refused to allow him to board the flight. Abd el-Fattah had been due to attend the event, where he and his mother, Laila Soueif, were awarded the Courage Under Fire prize.
Abd el-Fattah's status remains unclear following his release on 22 September after more than a decade in jail. The terms of his pardon, including his right to travel between Egypt and the UK, have not been settled and remain under discussion with authorities.
Seif collected the award on behalf of her brother and mother. Speaking at the ceremony, she expressed disappointment that Abd el-Fattah could not be present to be reunited with his 13-year-old son, Khaled, who lives in Brighton. Khaled visited his father in Egypt after the release but has since returned to the UK.
Laila Soueif ended a 287-day hunger strike on Monday, which she began on 29 September 2024 to demand her son's release. She was hospitalised at St Thomas' Hospital in London and came close to death on two occasions. Abd el-Fattah had been imprisoned for sharing a Facebook post about torture in Egypt.
