Cairo: Prominent Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who spent much of the past decade in jail, has been granted a pardon by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Abdel Fattah became a symbol of the struggle for human rights in Egypt, and his release followed a long campaign for his freedom, including a 10-month hunger strike by his mother, an activist and academic.

According to France24.com, the pardon for the 43-year-old was issued alongside five others and comes after a decision by a Cairo criminal court to remove Abdel Fattah from Egypt's terrorism list. The court's ruling highlighted that investigations found no evidence linking him to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. He had been a leading figure in Egypt's 2011 uprising and faced imprisonment under successive administrations.

The British government has consistently advocated for Abdel Fattah's release, raising his case in discussions with Egyptian authorities, including meetings between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Sisi. The United Nations has also labeled his detention as arbitrary and called for his immediate release.

Alaa's mother, Laila Soueif, recently concluded her hunger strike, which lasted 10 months, demanding her son's freedom. Abdel Fattah himself had been on a hunger strike since September, following a partial strike in March to show solidarity with his mother's efforts.