In July 2025, the British-Egyptian writer and prominent activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah was removed from Egypt’s terrorism watchlist. Two months later, on 22 September, he was pardoned by Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and finally released from jail, alongside five other detainees, after serving six years for sharing a social media post about torture in prisons. Abd el-Fattah’s release follows years of sustained domestic and international advocacy, including high-profile campaigns and diplomatic pressure from the UK and human rights organisations worldwide. 

Burhan Sonmez, president of PEN International, said:

We are thrilled to see Alaa reunited with his family and friends and look forward to seeing him together with his son in the UK. He is a remarkable writer and activist who should never have been imprisoned. While celebrating Alaa’s release, we remember all writers imprisoned for their expression.