Hopes rise of pardon for Abd el-Fattah as Starmer speaks with Egypt president

"Keir Starmer has spoken to Abdel Fatah al-Sisi amid reports the Egyptian president has directed his officials to study an internal request to grant a pardon to release the British-Egyptian human rights activist and writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah. Abd el-Fattah's British-based family are not commenting on developments save to say they are praying for his release. The readout of Wednesday's phone call between Sisi and Starmer focused on the Israeli bombing of Hamas members in Qatar,"

"Hopes of a pardon were ignited by Egypt's official National Human Rights Council making a call this week for his release and six other named prisoners, arguing a pardon would contribute to the stability and psychological balance of his family. It is expected a decision will be taken in a few days. The move represents the most optimistic development in his ordeal since he was arrested six years ago for endorsing a social media post about the death of a prisoner."

"His mother Laila Soueif, a Cairo university professor and herself active politically, started a hunger strikein September 2024 in the UK before being twice hospitalised in London. Close to death in July and facing desperate appeals from her family not to leave them, she relented after the Foreign Office gave assurances that it was making progress towards his release. On 21 July the first terrorism chamber of the Cairo criminal court agreed to remove Abd el-Fattah's name from the list of terrorists."

Keir Starmer spoke with Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as Egypt examines an internal request to pardon and release British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah. The call focused on Israeli strikes in Qatar, the threat of mass displacement in Gaza, and UN preparations for a two-state conference; Sisi welcomed UK recognition of a Palestinian state. The Foreign Office prioritises Abd el-Fattah’s release and expects a decision in a few days after Egypt’s National Human Rights Council urged his release. Abd el-Fattah was arrested six years ago, charged with broadcasting false news; his mother’s hunger strike and a Cairo court’s July removal of his name from a terrorism list have intensified attention.

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