The decision to pardon activist Alaa Abdel Fattah is leading the conversation on Egypt in the international pages: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has pardoned Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, his lawyer Khaled Ali wrote on Facebook. Abdel Fattah was released in the early hours of the morning.

The foreign press underlined the diplomatic weight behind the activist’s case: The Financial Times points out the case has drawn attention not just for Abd El Fattah’s high-profile status but also for the diplomatic and human rights pressure that mounted — including from the UK and rights organizations — especially after his removal from Egypt’s terrorism list and multiple hunger strikes.

Abdel Fattah has been imprisoned since late 2019 and a couple of years later he was found guilty of spreading fake news and was sentenced to five years in prison. His case has garnered much attention from the foreign press, with his mom and sisters launching campaigns to secure his release.

The news got a lot of ink: The Guardian | AFP | Reuters | BBC | New York Times | AP.

Tags: