Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s pardon is a major step forward and a huge relief, FairSquare said today after his lawyer reported that the President had issued a pardon for the British-Egyptian national.

FairSquare has been working closely with Alaa’s family in the UK since 2022, in an intense campaign that this year saw his mother Laila Soueif on hunger strike for nine months in protest at his ongoing unjust detention.

James Lynch, FairSquare director said:

“Alaa and his family have been through a terrible ordeal lasting more than a decade – it’s beyond time for that to come to an end, so that they can begin to rebuild their lives together. We hope to see him released and reunited with his son in Brighton without delay.”

FairSquare thanked the many British parliamentarians from across the political spectrum who continue to support Alaa and his family, including the All-Party Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs.