Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah returns to UK after travel ban lifted
Abdel Fattah's family expressed relief over the Egyptian-British activist being allowed to travel and return to the UK, where some of his family is based.
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
27 December, 2025
Abdel Fattah's family said they can 'finally begin to heal' after the activist returned to the UK on Friday [Getty/file photo]
Prominent Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah returned Friday to Britain, days after Egypt's attorney general lifted an apparent travel ban and following the 44-year-old's release from prison in September.
A key figure in Egypt's 2011 uprising, Abdel Fattah was granted a presidential pardon in September after having spent nearly a decade in prison, following years of advocacy by his family, rights groups and the UK government.
His mother, Laila Soueif, went on a lengthy hunger strike as part of the campaign for his release.
"I can't believe it's finally happened and Alaa has made it to the UK," his sister Mona Seif said in a statement.
"We thought it was impossible, but here he is," she added, noting hundreds of people "did so much to help bring this moment about" and that it meant the family can "finally begin to heal".
His sister previously revealed that, despite the pardon, Egyptian authorities had last month stopped Abdel Fattah from travelling at Cairo airport as he prepared to fly to Britain.
He will shortly be reunited with his 14-year-old son Khaled, who lives in Brighton with his mother and attends a special needs school because he is on the autism spectrum, according to the family.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "delighted" that Abdel Fattah was "back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones".
He paid tribute to his family and "to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment", noting his case has been "a top priority".
The British leader also said he was grateful to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for granting the pardon.
Abdel Fattah has opposed every Egyptian administration since the early 2000s, when activists in the country started using social media to express dissent.
He was last arrested in 2019 after sharing a Facebook post about police violence and sentenced in 2021 to five years in prison for "spreading false news" - a charge frequently brought against dissidents in Egypt.
Two months before his release, a Cairo criminal court removed Abdel Fattah's name from the list of terror suspects, following investigations that found he no longer had any ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
While several activists have been released in recent years, human rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of political prisoners remain in detention - claims which the authorities deny.
Abdel Fattah's family expressed relief over the Egyptian-British activist being allowed to travel and return to the UK, where some of his family is based.
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
27 December, 2025
Abdel Fattah's family said they can 'finally begin to heal' after the activist returned to the UK on Friday [Getty/file photo]
Prominent Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah returned Friday to Britain, days after Egypt's attorney general lifted an apparent travel ban and following the 44-year-old's release from prison in September.
A key figure in Egypt's 2011 uprising, Abdel Fattah was granted a presidential pardon in September after having spent nearly a decade in prison, following years of advocacy by his family, rights groups and the UK government.
His mother, Laila Soueif, went on a lengthy hunger strike as part of the campaign for his release.
"I can't believe it's finally happened and Alaa has made it to the UK," his sister Mona Seif said in a statement.
"We thought it was impossible, but here he is," she added, noting hundreds of people "did so much to help bring this moment about" and that it meant the family can "finally begin to heal".
His sister previously revealed that, despite the pardon, Egyptian authorities had last month stopped Abdel Fattah from travelling at Cairo airport as he prepared to fly to Britain.
He will shortly be reunited with his 14-year-old son Khaled, who lives in Brighton with his mother and attends a special needs school because he is on the autism spectrum, according to the family.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "delighted" that Abdel Fattah was "back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones".
He paid tribute to his family and "to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment", noting his case has been "a top priority".
The British leader also said he was grateful to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for granting the pardon.
Abdel Fattah has opposed every Egyptian administration since the early 2000s, when activists in the country started using social media to express dissent.
He was last arrested in 2019 after sharing a Facebook post about police violence and sentenced in 2021 to five years in prison for "spreading false news" - a charge frequently brought against dissidents in Egypt.
Two months before his release, a Cairo criminal court removed Abdel Fattah's name from the list of terror suspects, following investigations that found he no longer had any ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
While several activists have been released in recent years, human rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of political prisoners remain in detention - claims which the authorities deny.
December 26, 2025
Middle East Monitor
Sari Orabi [sariorabi/X]
Israeli occupation forces arrested the writer and political researcher Sari Orabi after raiding his home at dawn on Thursday in the town of Rafat, north of occupied Jerusalem, according to local media sources.
The sources said Israeli forces carried out wide arrest raids early on Thursday across several areas of the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. The raids targeted a number of young men and former prisoners after their homes were stormed, searched and damaged.
Sari Orabi is a writer and researcher specialising in politics and Islamic thought. His articles have been published in several newspapers, magazines, websites and research centres. He also regularly appears as a commentator on cultural, intellectual and political issues on a number of television channels.
In addition to Orabi, Israeli forces arrested Ibrahim Hourani after raiding his home in the city of Qalqilya. In the town of Aroura, north of Ramallah, they arrested Nasser Mufaraj and his son Amr, and re-arrested former prisoner Tayseer Khusaib following home raids.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office said the continued arrest campaigns show that Israeli policy targets academics, writers, former prisoners and young people alike, rather than a specific group. It said this reflects a clear attempt to suppress public awareness and social influence within Palestinian society.
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