British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah arrives in UK after travel ban lifted | Egypt

British-Egyptian dissident Alaa Abd al-Fattah arrived in London after the Egyptian government lifted a travel ban imposed on him despite his release from prison in September.

Abdel Fattah had been imprisoned continuously for almost 10 years, mainly because he expressed opposition to the Egyptian government’s treatment of dissidents. He was held in prison more than two years into his five-year sentence because Cairo authorities refused to recognize time in pre-trial detention as part of his time in prison.

Abdel Fattah’s previous attempt to travel from Cairo to London after being released from prison in November was blocked by security forces a month ago. He has since been trying to negotiate a deal that would see him allowed to travel freely between Cairo and London and not be permanently excluded from Egypt if he came to the UK.

His arrival in London was announced on Facebook by his mother, Laila Soueif.

His sister Mona Seif said: “I can’t believe this has finally happened and Alaa has made it to London. We thought it was impossible but here he is. Hundreds of people around the world have done so much to help make this moment happen. Alaa is free and we can finally begin to heal as a family.”

The family believes the deal will allow him to travel back and forth between England and Egypt.

James Lynch of FairSquare, a human rights organization that has been working with Abd al-Fattah’s family for several years, said: “I am delighted that Alaa has returned safely to the UK to be reunited with his son after such a long ordeal spanning more than a decade. After everything Alaa and his family have been through, I hope this is the start of a new chapter for them.”

His mother twice came close to death when she was hospitalized during an extended eight-month hunger strike designed to pressure the UK Foreign Office to do more to secure her release.

British prime minister Keir Starmer made three appeals to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and British national security adviser Jonathan Powell also personally appealed to Egyptians to end detention. But the Egyptians never allowed the British consulate to visit the prison, saying they did not recognize his dual citizenship status.

Changes at the Egyptian embassy in London may have helped create a less flexible stance.

Coming from a family of human rights activists, Abdel Fattah became one of the leading voices of the Arab spring. He has a direct, perceptive, non-sectarian writing style that has won him awards.

He has a teenage son, Khaled, who lives in Brighton and attends a special needs school. Considered a successful reunion, the boy visited her in Cairo shortly after his release.

Abdel Fattah’s sister Sanaa said as she was prevented from flying from Cairo: “We are really happy. [Alaa] “We are partially free in our lives, but she needs freedom of movement so that she can live with her son and be reunited with him properly.”

“Khaled needs his father. My nephew… is very, very comfortable in his school and his environment in Brighton. We can’t change. We can’t continue to create instability.”

He had already served a five-year prison sentence handed down in September 2019 on charges of “spreading fake news” after a widely criticized trial, but his family were told last year he would not be released until January 2027.

Starmer did not make any criticism about the fairness of Abdel Fattah’s sentence. The Prime Minister wrote on social media: “I am delighted that Alaa has returned to the UK and been reunited with his loved ones, who must have felt a deep sense of relief.” “I want to express my gratitude to Alaa’s family and everyone who worked and campaigned for this moment.

“Since we took office, Alaa’s case has been one of the top priorities for my government. I am grateful to President Sisi for his decision to accept the amnesty.”