Alaa Abdel Fattah, a British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist, was prevented from leaving Egypt for the UK earlier this week, according to family members. The 43-year-old had been a prominent political prisoner until his release seven weeks ago when he received a pardon from President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
Abdel Fattah attempted to travel to London on Tuesday alongside his sister, Sanaa, but officials at Cairo International Airport informed him he was prohibited from boarding the flight. Sanaa noted that the officials did not provide an explanation for this decision, and their lawyers in Egypt are seeking clarification on the legal basis for the travel restriction. Abdel Fattah holds both a British passport and a recently renewed Egyptian passport, leading Sanaa to expect that he would be allowed to travel.
Abdel Fattah’s son, Khaled, resides with his mother in Brighton, where he attends a special needs school due to being on the autism spectrum. Following his father’s release, Khaled spent a month visiting in Cairo but has since returned to the UK. Sanaa expressed concern over the need for her brother to have the freedom to reunite with Khaled, emphasizing the importance of stability for her nephew.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has been in contact with Abdel Fattah’s family about the situation. A statement from the FCDO acknowledged the significance of Abdel Fattah’s release and confirmed ongoing efforts to facilitate his return to the UK.
Abdel Fattah was recognized with the 2025 Magnitsky Award for “Courage Under Fire” alongside his mother, who had to accept the award in his absence. He gained prominence during the 2011 uprising in Egypt, which resulted in the ousting of long-time President Hosni Mubarak, and has faced multiple imprisonments and charges under the current administration, which is criticized by human rights groups for its crackdown on dissent.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c397mldgrnjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss