UK PM calls arrival of blogger and Egyptian government critic, who spent 12 years in prison, ‘profound relief’.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the Egyptian-British activist and blogger Alaa Abd El-Fattah has returned to the United Kingdom after spending nearly 12 years as a political prisoner in Egypt.
Starmer on Friday called the return of Abd El-Fattah, who was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in September after years of detention, a “profound relief”.
“I want to pay tribute to Alaa’s family and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment,” Starmer said. “Alaa’s case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office. I’m grateful to President Sisi for his decision to grant the pardon.”
The Egyptian-British writer was the most well known of six prisoners pardoned by el-Sisi this year after a series of hunger strikes and calls from international groups and leaders for his freedom.
I’m delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah is back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones, who must be feeling profound relief.
I want to pay tribute to Alaa’s family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment.
Alaa's case has been a top priority…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 26, 2025
The former blogger had been previously jailed in 2011 during Egypt’s uprising against former leader Hosni Mubarak. He later emerged as an outspoken critic of el-Sisi, who seized power in a military coup in 2013.
Abd El-Fattah was given a 15-year prison sentence in 2014 on charges of spreading false news before being temporarily released in 2019 and given another five-year sentence the same year.
Egyptian authorities deny holding political prisoners and argue that the government only jails activists for breaking the law.
Like other freed detainees, Abd El-Fattah faced a travel ban after his release in September. But early on Friday, he wrote a cryptic post on X announcing his departure from Egypt: “Is it possible, kids, that we will say bye?”
The British government had previously expressed concern over Abd El-Fattah’s condition in prison and called for his release but faced criticism that it had not applied sufficient pressure on el-Sisi’s government, which has close ties with both the UK and the United States.
“Praise be to God, Alaa reached London safely,” his mother, Laila Soueif, said in a social media post on Friday.