Washington D.C. – September 23, 2025 – Hostage Aid Worldwide welcomes the release of Egyptian-British writer and human rights activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has spent nearly six years in prison in Egypt. Alaa was granted a presidential pardon by President Al Sisi and is finally reunited with his family.

Alaa, a leading voice in Egypt’s pro-democracy movement, was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “spreading false news.” On September 29, 2024, he completed his sentence, but Egyptian authorities initially refused to release him. In protest, his mother, Laila Soueif, went on a hunger strike that led to multiple hospitalizations and put her health at severe risk.

During his detention, Alaa endured harsh treatment and went on several hunger strikes that drew widespread international attention. Recently, he was removed from Egypt’s National Terrorist List, and the National Council for Human Rights submitted a petition to President Al Sisi requesting a presidential pardon. His case has become emblematic of the struggles faced by thousands of political prisoners in Egypt.

“The pictures we see from Alaa Abdel Fattah’s release remind us of the power of courage, family, and relentless advocacy,” says Hostage Aid President Nizar Zakka. “Alaa endured years of unjust imprisonment and relentless persecution, but his resilience was matched—and in many ways carried—by the extraordinary bravery of his mother, Laila Soueif, who risked her own health and safety in a hunger strike to demand his freedom. This pardon is a hard-won victory, and a stark reminder that we must continue to fight for all those wrongfully detained and hold those responsible accountable.”

Hostage Aid Worldwide remains committed to advocating for the release of all hostages and wrongful detainees, supporting survivors and their families, and working with governments and civil society to prevent unlawful detention worldwide.