Civil society organizations in Egypt and around the world are actively advocating for the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a well-known activist, after his lawyer disclosed that he would remain in detention until 2027. Abd el-Fattah, who holds both Egyptian and British citizenship, is a software developer and blogger who has been imprisoned since 2019, with this coming Sunday marking five years since his most recent arrest.
In 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly spreading false information through a social media post. His lawyer has indicated that the authorities do not plan to count the time he spent in pretrial detention as part of his sentence, which has raised concerns among his supporters. A coalition of 59 civil society groups has emphasized that failing to release Abd el-Fattah by September 29 would be a violation of Egypt’s legal procedures and could set a concerning precedent for the treatment of activists in the country.
Currently, government officials have not provided any comments regarding his potential release. Abd el-Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif, has expressed her intention to visit him this Sunday and shared that he seemed optimistic during their last meeting. She noted, “He has been asking me to stop bringing books to clear the prison cell,” which highlights their family’s tradition of maintaining hope even in difficult circumstances.
Abd el-Fattah gained significant recognition during the 2011 Arab Spring, a pivotal moment in which former President Hosni Mubarak was removed from power. Since 2014, he has faced almost continuous imprisonment, becoming a symbol for many individuals affected by the widespread crackdown on dissent that has impacted a range of political voices.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has overseen this crackdown, has repeatedly asserted that the government prioritizes national security and stability while claiming to protect the rights of its citizens. In a notable incident in 2022, shortly after obtaining British citizenship, Abd el-Fattah attracted considerable international attention through a hunger strike during the COP27 climate summit, with his family reporting that he was close to death when he ultimately decided to end the strike.