Egypt set to release jailed rights activist

The British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah will be released from jail after serving six years for sharing a Facebook post, Egyptian state media have reported.

- Patrick Wintour

Egypt’s president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, granted him his freedom after intensive lobbying by the UK government and pressure from Egypt’s national human rights council.

The prime minister, Keir Starmer, is known to have telephoned Sisi three times to lobby for Abd el-Fattah’s release. His national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, also called for his release, as did the former foreign secretary David Lammy.

It appears a growing warmth in British-Egyptian official relations - including over how to handle the Palestine question - may have played a role in the president’s decision.

Abd el-Fattah’s 69-year-old mother, Laila Soueif, was admitted to hospital in London twice after going on hunger strikes to try to secure his release. The prominent activist and maths professor also held vigils outside the Foreign Office and Downing Street, saying she was prepared to die to achieve her son’s release.

The campaign has also been led by Abd el-Fattah’s two sisters, Mona and Sanaa, and other family members. They tried to keep a low profile once the possibility of his release became known, fearing that anything they might say could upset a delicate process. After hearing news of her brother’s impending release, Mona issued a short tweet in Arabic saying: “My heart will explode.”