Egypt

Alaa Abd El-Fattah: UN Working Group opinion and current status

UN Working Group on Arbitrary DetentionOpinion No. 6/2016, adopted 19 April 2016

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that his detention "is arbitrary and falls within categories I, II and III". It requested his immediate release and adequate reparation and referred torture allegations to the Special Rapporteur on torture.¹

Category ICategory IICategory III

Read the opinion

Government position

The Government replied on 20 April 2015. It said the November 2013 protest was unlawful because no prior notice was given, that participants attacked police and that the arrest followed a warrant. It said "the freedom to express opinion, far from being absolute, is subject to certain rules and conditions".¹

Background

According to the opinion, Mr. Abd El-Fattah, a blogger and software developer, was arrested at his home in late November 2013 after a demonstration outside the Shura Council and was accused of organising an unnotified protest and other offences. He was released on bail in March 2014, re-arrested on 27 October 2014, and the Government said a retrial on 23 February 2015 resulted in a five year sentence.¹

Status now

Released from prison on 23 September 2025, the day after President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pardoned him on 22 September 2025, per Al Jazeera and The National.^2,3

As of 23 September 2025.

Findings on this site are those of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent body of experts. Its opinions are not court judgments. Each record includes the government's position where it gave one.

Sources

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Opinion No. 6/2016 concerning Alaa Ahmed Seif al Islam Abd El Fattah (Egypt), A/HRC/WGAD/2016/6 (20 October 2016)
Al Jazeera, Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah freed after Sisi pardon (23 September 2025)
The National, Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah released from prison after El Sisi pardon (23 September 2025)