Alaa Abdel Fattah Denied Departure to UK Following Release from Egyptian Prison

Fri Nov 14 2025 16:37:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent British-Egyptian activist recently released from prison, was barred from flying to the UK, raising concerns about his freedom of movement.

Alaa Abdel Fattah, the British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist who was recently pardoned and released from prison, faced a setback when he was not allowed to board a flight to the UK. Family members are seeking clarity on the legal reasons for this blockade. Despite possessing valid travel documents, Abdel Fattah's attempt to reunite with family in London was thwarted at Cairo International Airport. The UK government is actively addressing the situation to facilitate his travel back home.

British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah was stopped from flying to the UK by Egyptian passport control earlier this week, his family says.

Mr. Abdel Fattah, 43, was Egypt's best-known political prisoner until seven weeks ago, when he was released from jail after being granted a pardon by President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

He attempted to fly to London on Tuesday with his sister Sanaa but was told by officials at Cairo International Airport that he was not allowed to travel.

They blocked him from boarding the flight and I had to go alone, Sanaa told the BBC's Today programme on Friday. There was no immediate comment from the Egyptian government.

They didn't explain much. Our lawyers in Egypt are trying to understand the legal grounds, Sanaa said. She added that her brother had his British passport as well as a recently renewed Egyptian passport.

I assumed after the renewal of the Egyptian passport that he would be allowed.

Alaa Abdel Fattah's 13-year-old son, Khaled, lives with his mother in Brighton, where he attends a special needs school because he is on the autism spectrum. Khaled spent a month visiting his father in Cairo following his release from prison, but he has now returned to the UK.

We're really glad to have [Alaa] back in our lives partially free, but he needs to have freedom of movement to live with his son, reunited with him properly, Ms. Seif said.

Ms. Seif said the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office had been communicating with her family over the issue but called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's office to also give it their attention.

The FCDO said in a statement: President Sisi's decision to pardon and release Alaa Abdel Fattah was extremely welcome news and a significant step forward.

We continue to press for his urgent return to the UK at the highest levels with the Egyptian government so he can be reunited with his family. The case remains a priority issue for the UK government.

On Thursday night, Alaa Abdel Fattah and his mother were given the 2025 Magnitsky Award for Courage Under Fire. Sanaa had to collect the award on their behalf.

Mr. Abdel Fattah rose to prominence during the 2011 uprising in Egypt that forced long-time President Hosni Mubarak to resign. He spent most of his time in prison after 2014, following the military's overthrow of Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi.

Despite being pardoned, his freedom remains limited, raising concerns among his family and human rights observers regarding ongoing restrictions in the country.