Egyptian-British Journalist,Abdelfattah has regained freedom after spending ten years in Prison in Cairo, Egypt.
A statement by Committe to Protect Journalists,CPJ, announcing the release of the Journalist reads in full
"After advocating for Abdelfattah’s release over the past decade, CPJ celebrated his release on Sept. 23 following a pardon by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Abdelfattah spent nearly a decade in prison despite Egyptian legal provisions that should have guaranteed his release last September.
"Abdelfattah, who wrote about politics and human rights violations for numerous outlets, was first detained on October 27, 2014. After spending 5 years in prison, he was released but then quickly re-arrested in September 2019 during a crackdown on protests demanding President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi’s resignation. He was then sentenced to another five years in prison on charges of spreading false news and anti-state activities. In Sept. 2024, Abdelfattah was due for release, however Egyptian authorities unlawfully extended his imprisonment until Jan. 2027, violating Egypt’s own Criminal Procedure Law.
"In May 2025, CPJ and 31 other human rights organizations urged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intensify his diplomatic efforts to secure Abdelfattah’s release. On May 20, the journalist’s 69-year- old mother, Laila Soueif, resumed her near-total hunger strike in protest.
"We hope Abdelfattah’s release signals a step toward greater openness and respect for freedom of expression in Egypt. We look forward to further progress in safeguarding press freedom in the country. "
📷: Mohamed El-Raai/AFPJ
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