A prominent activist with dual British-Egyptian citizenship was prevented from boarding a flight to the United Kingdom earlier this week, according to his family. Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a writer and human rights campaigner, was stopped by Egyptian passport control officials at Cairo International Airport.
The activist had intended to travel to London to attend a series of events, including a major human rights awards ceremony. His sister, Sanaa Seif, confirmed the travel ban during a speech at that ceremony, stating she had been with him at the airport when authorities refused him permission to depart.
Abd el-Fattah was released from prison in late September following a presidential pardon, after serving more than a decade behind bars. His legal status following that release, particularly regarding his freedom to travel internationally, had remained ambiguous and under negotiation.
The awards ceremony in London proceeded by honoring both Abd el-Fattah and his mother, Laila Soueif, with a joint award for courage. Seif accepted the recognition on their behalf, expressing her regret that her brother could not be present to be reunited with his teenage son, who resides in Brighton, England.
The activist’s mother had previously undertaken a prolonged public hunger strike lasting over nine months, an effort that seriously endangered her health, to campaign for her son’s release from detention. Abd el-Fattah had originally been imprisoned on charges related to disseminating false information.
Since his release, Abd el-Fattah has given limited interviews, suggesting he requires a period of recovery and reflection before determining his future path. The recent travel restriction indicates ongoing tensions between the activist and Egyptian state authorities, despite his official pardon.