Egypt Pardons British-Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah

4 DAYS AGO·UPDATED 4 DAYS AGO

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Above: Laila Soueif sits next to a portrait of her son, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 7, 2025. Image copyright: Sayed Hassan/Getty Images

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

The pardon marks a long-overdue humanitarian gesture, highlighting the arbitrary nature of Abdel Fattah's detention and his family's suffering. Jailed for exercising free expression and raising rights concerns, his case exposed Egypt's harsh crackdown on dissent. His mother's hunger strike and the family’s tireless advocacy underscored the human cost.

Human Rights Watch New Yorker

Pro-government narrative

The pardon shows Egypt's balance of justice and humanitarian concern while safeguarding national security. Following constitutional procedures and review by the National Council for Human Rights, President el-Sisi acted on legitimate clemency appeals. The decision upholds the rule of law while protecting the state from those spreading false information.

Ahram Online Egyptian Streets