By PATRICK HARRINGTON

Published: 21:23 GMT, 26 December 2025 | Updated: 03:26 GMT, 27 December 2025

Sir Keir Starmer said he is 'delighted' by the safe return of a British democracy activist who was held in an Egyptian prison for six years.

Alaa Abd El-Fattah was pardoned in September after a desperate campaign by his family and British diplomatic pressure, and the Prime Minister today revealed that he has reunited with his family in the UK.

Mr Abd El-Fattah, who has dual British-Egyptian nationality, was detained in the north African country in September 2019, and in December 2021 was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news.

His imprisonment was branded a breach of international law by UN investigators, and he was only set free after a presidential pardon from President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi.

In her efforts to secure her son's freedom, Mr Abd El-Fattah resorted to an excruciating hunger strike that lasted almost 300 days.

On Friday, Sir Keir wrote on X: 'I'm delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah is back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones, who must be feeling profound relief.

'I want to pay tribute to Alaa's family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment.

'Alaa's case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office. I'm grateful to President Sisi for his decision to grant the pardon.'

Alaa Abd El-Fattah with his mother Laila after arriving back in the UK

Al-Fattah, with his sister Sanaa Seif on the right, was released in September but as only just returned to the UK

Alaa Abd El-Fattah spent years in and out of prison thanks to his pro-democracy activism

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper similarly stressed that Mr Abd El-Fattah's release had been a 'top priority' for the Government, and paid tribute to the activist's family.

Ms Cooper wrote on X: 'I'm delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah has arrived in the UK and is with his family.

'Alaa's case has been a top priority for our Government and I welcome President Sisi's granting of this pardon.

'I pay tribute to Alaa's family for their tireless determination to be reunited.'

Mr Abd El-Fattah was accused of spreading false news in the course of his democracy and human rights activism, which often involved unauthoritsed protests that were critical of the government.

He grew to become one of Egypt's most prominent political prisoners after spending much of his adult life in and out of detention due to his activism, and offered a rare symbol of opposition to a far-reaching crackdown under Sisi.